Score one for the thieves: 40 soccer goals stolen from county

It's a good thing soccer season doesn't resume until September.

Thieves stole 40 soccer goals of varying sizes from a Beaufort County Public Works storage yard behind the Bluffton Recreation Center, 61 Ulmer Road, overnight Thursday, according to a sheriff's report released Monday.

The aluminum goals are used by Beaufort County Parks and Leisure Services and are worth about $65,800. The culprits cut a padlock and used a truck to loot the storage yard.

Joe Penale, parks director for southern Beaufort County, said the soccer equipment is insured. The county will replace the goals if they aren't found by the beginning of soccer season, he said.

Thieves probably stole them so they could sell the metal to a scrap yard, Penale said.

A Beaufort County Sheriff's Office detective is assigned to the case.