Golf cart chop shop busted in The Villages

[TVMayor]

The Villages
Golf cart chop shop busted in The Villages
Lady Lake police have dismantled an alleged golf cart chop shop in The Villages they said had a number of stripped vehicles and parts scattered throughout the property.

Police said they found the parts to at least two golf carts at a Tarrson Boulevard home. Joseph D. Robinson, 29, was charged with dealing in stolen property as well as domestic battery after he allegedly started a scuffle with his girlfriend while police were at his home.

Robinson remained in the Lake County jail Wednesday in lieu of $15,000 bail.

By Wednesday, police Lt. Jason Brough said officers had seized most of the parts from the yard to determine if the home can be connected to any other stolen golf carts.

According to a police investigative report on Aug. 28, a woman told police she left her gold 2000 Club Car golf cart in the Fiesta Bowl parking lot in Lady Lake, and when she and her granddaughter returned from bowling, the vehicle was gone.

Police eventually found the golf cart parked on La Grande Boulevard, with its curtains missing and the identification number scratched off.

On Saturday, a Sumter County man who was missing a golf cart contacted police after a friend allegedly spotted a couple driving the vehicle and later found it in the yard of the 424 Tarrson Boulevard home.

Police responding to the home found a number of stripped golf carts and parts from various carts scattered on the property, as well as mail, Penn State University stickers, other personal items belonging to the Sumter County victim and the curtains belonging to the bowling alley victim.

The report adds the shed was full of used golf cart tires, hubcaps and battery chargers.

The Sumter County victim was called to the scene and told police his cart wasn’t there, but then spotted his cart one block over at a construction site on Parker Drive. He told police he was able to confirm it was his vehicle by the serial number. He said all of his Penn State stickers had been ripped off and the seat covering, rims and lighting had been changed.

The report adds on Tuesday police found Robinson at his home and tried to talk to him. But he refused to do so and grabbed his girlfriend, threw her on a bed and closed the door when she advised him to talk with police.

Brough said Wednesday that vehicle theft charges are pending against Robinson.
Golf cart chop shop busted in The Villages - Daily Commercial: News (http://www.dailycommercial.com/news/article_1519e3ac-9bdc-558c-bda5-7d608a41e209.html)

[thelegges]

So far job well done. Hope charges stick

[TVMayor]

I just contacted the owner of the property in Flint MI and told him what had happened. He said he was just paid the rent yesterday and he has/or had a golf cart at the home.

[Aandjmassage]

We need to take pics of are cart and serial numbers. Wow

[Allegiance]

Where are the serial numbers located on club cars and Yamaha?

[DonH57]

Are the serial numbers embossed on any part of the carts or just on a removable sticker?

[TVMayor]

Charges added....
The man charged in the theft of golf carts in The Villages, is also facing charges of stealing a Sony portable speaker from Target.

Joseph D. Robinson, 29, of 424 Tarrson Boulevard, was arrested Tuesday by Lady Lake police on charges of battery and dealing in stolen property.

He is accused of stealing Villagers’ golf carts and disassembling them for their parts.

Already in the Lake County Jail, a charge of retail theft was added Thursday in connection with the Aug. 10 incident at the Target at Rolling Acres shopping plaza. A photo of Robinson was compared to surveillance video from Target and it was determined that it was Robinson who had taken the item from Target in August, according to police reports.

In addition, a charge of possession of stolen property was also added on Thursday after a Villager whose golf cart had been stolen in August went to the Lady Lake police station and identified her golf cart’s enclosure and basket. That property had been discovered by police at Robinson’s residence on the Historic Side of The Villages.

He is being held on $17,500 bond.

He is scheduled for arraignment Sept. 29 in Lake County Court.

[graciegirl]

I just contacted the owner of the property in Flint MI and told him what had happened. He said he was just paid the rent yesterday and he has/or had a golf cart at the home.

WAS he surprised and upset? I hope so.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I've ridden by that home many times on my golf cart and always wondered what was going on over there. There always seemed to be several golf carts and sometimes someone working on them. I never thought that much about it because there are a few people on this side who run small golf cart repair and sales businesses out of their house. I just assumed that's what it was.

If I'm not mistaken, there is also a car with Massachusetts plates in the driveway that has been there for a very long time. Being from Mass, that caught my eye. I wondered why they are here so long and haven't changed over to a Florida registration. It's been there for close to or maybe more than a year.

[TVMayor]

WAS he surprised and upset? I hope so.

When I told him who I was and why I was calling and I relayed the information in the news article, his response sounded like a neighbor had told him his renter been taken away by the police. He knew it happened but no details. He said the renter paid on time. He is aware the developer is buying homes in the area for 100k and he will look into selling to the developer.