Friday, July 11, 2003
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Friday, July 11, 2003 |
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Golf cart theft up in PTC: police say joy riders to blame since most carts found By JOHN
MUNFORD
Golf carts have long been known as easy targets for theft, and 12 have been stolen in Peachtree City since June, according to police. Of those, eight have been recovered, leading police to one conclusion: "Every indication is they're being taken for a joy ride," said Maj. Mike DuPree of the Peachtree City Police Department. "There are no indications they are being taken out of the city." When the carts are found they are sometimes damaged and sometimes missing a part, DuPree said. Occasionally a stolen cart is found wrecked, he added. In addition to offering a reward to encourage witnesses to come forward, police are urging residents to take precautions and report suspicious activity to police particularly at night so it can be investigated. DuPree urges residents not to take the city's reputation for safety for granted. "If there's anyone walking around on the street late at night ... or behind their house or the golf cart path especially at night," residents should investigate or call police, DuPree said. "We'd love for people to become more aware about what's going on in their neighborhood," DuPree said. An alleged golf cart thief was caught red-handed after crashing into a parked car July 4, but police are seeking the public's help with 13 other unsolved cases in recent weeks. A reward of $500 has been established for information leading to the arrest and conviction of persons responsible for any of the 26 golf cart thefts since the beginning of the year, DuPree said. The majority of the thefts since June have occurred in the southeast side of the city, DuPree said. Two were taken from areas on Newgate Road, and one each have been taken from the following areas: Long Leaf. Lamella Lane. Village Park. Ridgefield Drive. Whitfield Court. Kenton Place. Southwind Reach. Dove Rise. Saltlick Trace. Police urge residents to store their golf carts in the garage and keep the garage door closed even while they are home and not working in the garage, DuPree added. Also, when carts break down on the path system or elsewhere, owners are advised to secure them before they are left unattended by removing important items, DuPree said. Those who steal golf carts can be taken for quite a ride themselves if caught. Stealing a golf cart is the same as stealing any other motor vehicle under the eyes of the law, DuPree noted. "It's not like stealing a toy," DuPree said. "It's a felony that will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." In addition to being cautious, golf cart owners can also take other precautions thanks to special products on the market. Jonathan Hooper of Bulldog Supply said owners of Club Car golf carts can install an "uncommon" key ignition which uses a different key than most golf carts. The company also sells a version of "The Club" which locks to render a cart's steering wheel useless. "You can also install a switch," to turn on the cart which can be hidden so only the owner knows where it is, Hooper said. Hooper has also installed a Lojack satellite tracking system on golf carts for an Atlanta security company which had problems with stolen carts that were trucked off. "That was pretty funny," Hooper said, adding that he has performed no such Lojack installations for any local residents.
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