By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – The St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Department is investigating the theft of five cellular phones stolen from the Riverside Academy locker room during the school’s game Friday night.

Capt. Dane Clement, spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office, said the theft was reported just after 8 p.m., when the players returned to the locker room during halftime of the game and noticed their phones missing from their assigned lockers.

Clement said deputies spoke to Riverside coaches, who said they believed the building was secure when players left the locker room around 6:50 p.m. to start the game. There were no signs of forced entry, but there is known to be quite a bit of foot traffic in the area at the time of the incident, Clement said.

Deputies spoke to three of the five players involved who all said they had Apple iPhone 4 phones stolen.

The phones were the only items reported stolen during the incident.

Anyone with information about the theft should call St. John the Baptist Parish detectives at 985-359-8769.