Police round up golf cart theives

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

Police believe five out-of-town youths turned 11 stolen golf carts into a demolition derby back on July 31.

The incident is one of a growing number of golf cart thefts that has occurred in the city this summer, said Maj. Mike DuPree of the Peachtree City Police Department.

The golf carts, which were taken from Bulldog Supply on Huddleston Road, were severely damaged, according to a statement released by the police department.

Last week, police arrested two teenagers and filed charges against three out-of-state juveniles in connection with the incident.

Bobby J. Troutt, 19, of Palmetto and Donald J. Bruce Jr., 17, of Union City were each charged with 11 counts of theft and three counts of criminal trespassing. Three 16-year-old juveniles, who live outside the state, also face the same charges.

The statement from the department said other businesses in the area reported mailboxes and signs that were damaged during the time frame of the incident.

DuPree said the amount of stolen golf carts reported this summer is more than he has seen in the past 15 years. The charges for golf cart theft are felony counts, just as they would be for automobile theft, he added.

Police are still investigating other golf cart thefts, DuPree said.
As a result, the police department is stepping up its surveillance efforts at night, DuPree said. The department is also stopping youths on carts late at night since that’s when it appears most of the thefts are taking place.

“We are finding that there seem to be groups of kids involved,” DuPree said. He added that the public has provided “quite a bit of information” that has helped the investigations.

According to police reports, youths arrested recently in relation to golf cart thefts include:

Antonia A. Thomas, 18, of Peachtree City, Aug. 1 for four counts of theft.

Jeffery C. Gotch, 17, of Peachtree City, Aug. 1 for four counts of theft.

Marcus A. Beasley, 17, of Senoia, Aug. 6 for six counts of theft.

A juvenile, 13, of Palmetto, Aug. 1 for four counts of theft.

Two juveniles, 13, of Peachtree City, Aug. 4 for two counts of theft.