VENICE, Fla. ( WWSB ) - It was a case of opportunistic theft — and woefully bad timing.

During the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new pickleball courts at Heckscher Park in downtown Venice, a match between city police officers and firefighters was set to begin — just as several players discovered their paddles missing from the community rack.

Venice Police say onlookers and players told them they saw 79-year-old Salvatore Cracolici remove multiple paddles from the rack.

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After a quick investigation, police say Cracolici was detained and he admitted to being deceptive.

Four paddles were recovered and returned.

Cracolici was charged with three separate counts of petit theft. He has also been trespassed from the park.

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