Arrest made in theft of baseball equipment at Atlantic Shores

Baseball players at Atlantic Shores Christian High School are looking forward to getting some of their equipment back today after nearly $5,000 worth of gear was stolen early Tuesday morning from a trailer used as a locker room on school property . 

According to Virginia Beach police spokesman Adam Bernstein, police have arrested 29-year-old Anthony Polombo and charged him with attempting to sell stolen property to a used sporting goods store in Lynnhaven. Additional charges may be filed by Chesapeake police since the school is located in that city.

"It's my undertanding that more than one person was brought in for questioning, but Palombo was the only person charged," said Bernstein. "It's not known at this time if Palombo was involved in the burglary. Chesapeake police are investigating on that."

“We’re due to get most of the equipment back today,” Atlantic Shores baseball coach Joe Agreste this morning. “It’s not everything, but as I told the kids when we first learned of this, ‘It’s not the equipment that makes the player, it’s the heart in the player.’ 

“We’ll get through this.” 

After the players took inventory, Atlantic Shores athletic director Mike Tribus faxed a list of the stolen gear to several used sporting good stores in the area Tuesday, including Play it Again Sports in Chesapeake. 

“The manager there sent the fax over to the Play it Again II in Lynnhaven and that store noticed that some of our bats and helmets had come in there,” said Agreste. “They called us and described the equipment. When we said it sounded like our stuff, they called 911.” 

On Wednesday, detectives came to Atlantic Shores and showed the team pictures of equipment sold to the store.

“There were 12-13 bats, some helmets and catcher’s equipment,” said Agreste.

Atlantic Shores held baseball practice Wednesday and some players showed up with new equipment.

“We have dedicated parents in our program,” said Agreste. “I knew some of the equipment would be replaced quickly. Also, Play it Again told us they’d replace anything we need at cost. That was a great gesture.”