Two men have been charged in connection with the theft of approximately $18,000 worth of equipment from the England national football team during their World Cup campaign, a US prosecutor announced on Saturday.
Charges Filed
Mustafa Salik and Erfan Kamal each face one count of receiving stolen property, according to a statement from the office of Jackson County Prosecutor Melesa Johnson. The offense under Missouri law carries a potential prison sentence of up to seven years.
The stolen items included kits and equipment taken from vehicles while being transported from England's training camp in Florida to their World Cup base in Kansas City. The prosecutor's office estimated the value of the stolen property at around $18,000.
Swift Response
Prosecutor Johnson emphasized that Jackson County would not tolerate criminal activity targeting World Cup visitors, including international teams. She thanked the Kansas City Police Department and on-call attorneys for their quick work in investigating the incident and filing charges.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas praised the police and prosecutor's office for resolving an investigation that spanned several states, helping crime victims recover goods stolen in transit.
Items Recovered
England reserve goalkeeper Dean Henderson confirmed that most of the stolen items had been recovered. I got them back, so it's all good, said the Crystal Palace goalkeeper after England's first training session at Swope Soccer Village. I think they got everything back, so it's all good.
Defender Dan Burn remained relaxed about the incident. Obviously it was to do with the police, so I don't know how much people know about it. We didn't know a lot about it, but I've got all my kit and all my boots, he said.
World Cup Campaign
Thomas Tuchel's England squad, considered among the favorites to win the World Cup, conducted a gentle training session in front of numerous fans on Saturday. They are set to begin their World Cup campaign against Croatia on Wednesday, followed by further Group L matches against Ghana and Panama.
