The Fayette Citizen-News Page

Wednesday, July 30, 2003

Cops nab boy, 9, for PTC golf cart theft

By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

A 9-year-old College Park boy was taken into custody Monday evening by Peachtree City police for stealing a golf cart parked at a Braelinn liquor store, police said.

The boy, who was staying with his aunt at Harmony Village Apartments, took the cart from Arnie's Fine Wine, Liquor and Beer after 8 p.m., said Chief James Murray. Witnesses to the incident used a cell phone to call police, Murray said.

The witnesses followed the boy from Crosstown Court all the way to Harmony Village where officers made contact with the boy, Murray said. A juvenile complaint was filed on the boy, who was released to his mother, Murray said.

"Apparently someone showed him how to do it," Murray said. "... It really concerns me when I see a 9-year-old committing a crime."

The charges against the boy may not stand because of a law that says a juvenile must be at least 10 years old to commit a crime, Murray said. That decision will be up to the district attorney's office, the chief added.

The boy, who will become 10 in November, was charged with one felony count of theft by taking (motor vehicle) and underage operation of a golf cart, Murray said. The boy was alone when the incident took place, Murray said.

The chief said he was concerned that the boy was not supervised by an adult during the time of evening the incident occurred.

"It's hard enough to police adults, much less 9-year-olds that commit crime," Murray said, adding that police would forward information about the case to the Department of Family and Children Services. "Nine-year-olds believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy. That's what you think they are,children."

The boy will be questioned as to whether he is involved in other golf cart thefts in the area, Murray added.

Because so many golf carts operate on the same type of key, they are stolen easily, Murray said. Most times, the golf carts are taken for "joy rides" and later found elsewhere, police have said.