toy soldier decoration from the yard of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Flood on Sunday afternoon.

The soldier was one of two soldiers which took Phyllis Flood more than two weeks to make.

And although the Floods decorate their Flatt's yard every year, this was the first time that the soldiers had been put out.

The life-sized soldier, painted blue, white, and black, was taken sometime between 1 and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Mrs. Flood said the soldier was secured with screws to the wall of the Flood's home.

And she said she did not understand why anyone would want to steal one of the soldiers.

"It baffles me,'' Mrs. Flood added. "The soldier has no monetary value to anyone but me.'' She explained that the five foot decoration was unique and that the thief would be stupid to try and put in his/her on yard.

Mrs. Flood said it was a shame that the soldier was stolen as the decorations brought joy to people who passed by in vehicles.

"People call out and encourage me to continue,'' she explained. "And kids get a kick out of seeing the decorations.'' Mrs. Flood said she was missing her other "guard'' and desperately wanted it to be returned.

"If necessary I would replace the soldier next year, but I would like it back,'' she added. "If the person has any kind of decency, they would bring it back.'' TEENAGER REMANDED IN CUSTODY CTS Teenager remanded in custody An 18-year-old Pembroke man was yesterday remanded in custody after he appeared in Magistrates' Court on charges of wilful and unlawful damage.

Samuel Riley, of St. John's Road, pleaded guilty to causing $90 damage to Whitney Institute property on May 11, 1996.

Prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said a group of students, including Riley, were sitting in a classroom without a teacher when someone suggested that they set the school on fire.

The students took a rag and some oil from out of a closet and went to the men's bathrooms where they put the rag in a plastic garbage can, dosed it with oil, and lighted it with Riley's lighter, Sgt. Taylor added.

After the students returned to the classroom, one of the students borrowed Riley's lighter once more and went to check on the fire which was getting larger.

A teacher from another classroom was alerted and put out the fire with a bucket of water, Sgt. Taylor said.

Riley's lawyer, Kim Wilson, said Riley was "the least collaborative of the others involved'' as he did not set the fire himself.

Senior Magistrate Will Francis decided to remand Riley in custody until December 16 when he is scheduled to appear for breach of probation for another matter.

CHARGES DROPPED CTS Charges dropped A Sandys man remanded in prison on a charge of armed robbery appeared at Magistrates' Court yesterday to face two further charges of assault and causing willfull damage.

But Magistrate Arthur Hodgson dropped the charges against Reid Henry Jones after prosecution lawyers failed to provide any evidence.

Jones was accused of assaulting Myron Dill on May 26. Two weeks later it was alleged that he damaged a wooden door of Dill's house.

Jones pleaded not guilty to both charges which were withdrawn when prosecutors failed to submit any evidence.

ON GUARD -- Phyllis Flood is on the lookout for the exact duplicate of this toy soldier which stands at the entrance to her Smith's Parish home. The homemade decoration was stolen on Sunday.