Brazen boys try to rob employees at Florida police station

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- In a spectacular case of poor planning, two boys on Wednesday tried to rob two civilian employees inside a Florida police station, a police spokesman said Thursday.

The youths, ages 12 and 14, summarily were taken into custody at gunpoint by several officers who were there taking a defensive tactics course, said Officer Robert Vega, Port St. Lucie police spokesman.

The incident happened about 4:30 p.m. at the station after the boys strolled in.

The 12-year-old sauntered to the records counter and then proceeded to another counter where he picked up a phone to talk to a service aid behind a protective window, demanding her cash.

"Not only did he pick up the phone and say, 'Put your hands up and give me your money,' he had his hand in his jacket insinuating that he had a gun," Vega said.

The boys each face an attempted armed robbery charge.

"They were either very brazen or very dumb, but I think the latter," Vega said.

Although only the 12-year-old demanded money, the other boy also is being charged in connection with the incident because he "knew what was going to happen."

"He was a willing participant in the entire event," Vega said.

The 14-year-old also faces a violation of probation charge.

(Will Greenlee writes for Scripps Treasure Coast (Fla.) Newspapers, The Stuart News, Fort Pierce Tribune and Vero Beach Press Journal. E-mail will.greenlee(at)scripps.com.)