Golf Clubs Stolen at Havana Golf Shop

[Linda Spille]

Thursday afternoon when the rain began, my husband came back in to the golf shop at Havana to get a voucher. Unfortunately, nothing is safe anywhere.

Thief lifted up the golf cart flaps, tossed the cover of my friends iron onto the ground. my husband was not so lucky. Thief took the 6, 7 & 8 iron out of his bag. Makes no sense. Why take 3 irons? had some desirable woods and putter. Now the set is useless.

Wish they had cameras, love to find out what deplorable would do such a thing!

Lock your stuff up Villagers! Nothing is safe these days!

[dewilson58]

Since you wanted Villages with no pets (Thread: Should there be villages with no pets?), I'm betting it was a dog.


:oops:

[JSR22]

Since you wanted Villages with no pets (Thread: Should there be villages with no pets?), I'm betting it was a dog.


:oops:

There are feral cats.

[Marathon Man]

Since you wanted Villages with no pets (Thread: Should there be villages with no pets?), I'm betting it was a dog.


:oops:

:eclipsee_gold_cup:

[asianthree]

Find it odd just 3 clubs were taken. Quicker to take the whole bag. Set isn’t useless, many play with multiple different club sets. If you contact the company all 3 clubs can be replaced, if newer set. eBay would be next choice. Call any resale shop in area, they might end up there, like play again sports. They have tons of clubs, most useless but never know.

[Mortal1]

A set is NOT useless because a few irons were taken. Seriously?

[Bogie Shooter]

Strange?

[Pairadocs]

A set is NOT useless because a few irons were taken. Seriously?

That's for sure ! I feel bad for the person if this was legit post, but made me wonder if this is another one of those folks who really enjoy making questionable posts and then sitting back to enjoy the "answers"... ? ? ? A set is "useless" if 3 irons are missing ? Useless if you loose one yourself ? Story sounds a little strange, but yes, the villages is huge these days and the population very diverse. It's not some warm, fuzzy, little town any more. I do agree it would be very interesting to have more video cameras, but that's probably out of the question financially.

[kcrazorbackfan]

Since you wanted Villages with no pets (Thread: Should there be villages with no pets?), I'm betting it was a dog.


:oops:

Karma

[Dotneko]

Again, instead of commiserating, the usual suspects resort to (in their minds) humor. They just think they are soooo clever. I think some of them were dropped on their heads as children and never progressed beyond that age intellectually.

OP - Im sorry this happened. Yes, there is crime everywhere even in the bubble. You have gotten some good advice - those individual clubs can be replaced, so the set isnt useless. They probably dont rise to your deductible limits on your homeowners policy, so insurance isnt going to help. File a report, check the sales. Move on after learning a valuable lesson.
Im frankly amazed at the dollar value of clubs sitting unsecured in the backs of carts all over the villages and surprised there isnt more theft.

[BrianL99]

Strange?


More than "strange". There's more to this story.

[walterray1]

Thursday afternoon when the rain began, my husband came back in to the golf shop at Havana to get a voucher. Unfortunately, nothing is safe anywhere.

Thief lifted up the golf cart flaps, tossed the cover of my friends iron onto the ground. my husband was not so lucky. Thief took the 6, 7 & 8 iron out of his bag. Makes no sense. Why take 3 irons? had some desirable woods and putter. Now the set is useless.

Wish they had cameras, love to find out what deplorable would do such a thing!

Lock your stuff up Villagers! Nothing is safe these days!

"It makes no sense".

[walterray1]

"It makes no sense".

use of the word deplorable. Really?

[rjn5656]

where was the cart parked, out front of the pro shop or out back?

[Get real]

was it happy hour?

[sdeikenberry]

To the author, you can prevent theft by making a relatively inexpensive purchase at a Country Club golf shop. They sell covers that go over the top of the bag covering all clubs, have a cable that goes around your cart basket or support posts, through the hand grab on your bag, and using a lock you supply keeps the clubs and bag from being stolen or removed from your cart. I suppose a thief with cable cutters could still steal them, but in all likelyhood they would move on the an easier target.

[DaleDivine]

To the author, you can prevent theft by making a relatively inexpensive purchase at a Country Club golf shop. They sell covers that go over the top of the bag covering all clubs, have a cable that goes around your cart basket or support posts, through the hand grab on your bag, and using a lock you supply keeps the clubs and bag from being stolen or removed from your cart. I suppose a thief with cable cutters could still steal them, but in all likelyhood they would move on the an easier target.

When it's pouring down rain like it was Thursday afternoon (I got caught in it too). It's hard to stand in the rain and take the time to put the locking cover on when you're just going to be a couple of minutes running in to get a rain check.

:22yikes::22yikes:

[Ken D.]

where was the cart parked, out front of the pro shop or out back?
Great question, it narrows the search.

[TomPerry]

Very strange! Just the 6, 7 & 8 irons in just the short time to get a rain check, not the putter or driver which are more expensive. Is it possible someone mistakenly took them confusingly think it was his bag? Perhaps to go to the practice nets? When he came back your cart was gone? Check with the pro shop and Kenya starter shack and see if anyone turn in any “lost” clubs?

[paulajr]

Why leave clubs unattended? Only one person in the foursome needed to go in the shop to request a rain check…

[golfing eagles]

Very strange! Just the 6, 7 & 8 irons in just the short time to get a rain check, not the putter or driver which are more expensive. Is it possible someone mistakenly took them confusingly think it was his bag? Perhaps to go to the practice nets? When he came back your cart was gone? Check with the pro shop and Kenya starter shack and see if anyone turn in any “lost” clubs?

Hit into the nets in pouring rain???? And with 6,7,8 irons as opposed to driver, hybrid, 7 iron, wedge???? Highly unlikely

[richs631]

Thursday afternoon when the rain began, my husband came back in to the golf shop at Havana to get a voucher. Unfortunately, nothing is safe anywhere.

Thief lifted up the golf cart flaps, tossed the cover of my friends iron onto the ground. my husband was not so lucky. Thief took the 6, 7 & 8 iron out of his bag. Makes no sense. Why take 3 irons? had some desirable woods and putter. Now the set is useless.

Wish they had cameras, love to find out what deplorable would do such a thing!

Lock your stuff up Villagers! Nothing is safe these days!

Not for nothing but the owners of all these commercial establishments should have cameras if not for their protection then at least for their customers. CCTV is relatively inexpensive

[Stu from NYC]

Hmm two posts both rather odd

[Transplant]

Check with lost and found

[Singerlady]

Thursday afternoon when the rain began, my husband came back in to the golf shop at Havana to get a voucher. Unfortunately, nothing is safe anywhere.

Thief lifted up the golf cart flaps, tossed the cover of my friends iron onto the ground. my husband was not so lucky. Thief took the 6, 7 & 8 iron out of his bag. Makes no sense. Why take 3 irons? had some desirable woods and putter. Now the set is useless.

Wish they had cameras, love to find out what deplorable would do such a thing!

Lock your stuff up Villagers! Nothing is safe these days!
Sorry to hear. Buy a lock bag at one of the pro shops and use it! Never park in front…better to park in the cart parking area, also. Good luck.

[jebartle]

Thursday afternoon when the rain began, my husband came back in to the golf shop at Havana to get a voucher. Unfortunately, nothing is safe anywhere.

Thief lifted up the golf cart flaps, tossed the cover of my friends iron onto the ground. my husband was not so lucky. Thief took the 6, 7 & 8 iron out of his bag. Makes no sense. Why take 3 irons? had some desirable woods and putter. Now the set is useless.

Wish they had cameras, love to find out what deplorable would do such a thing!

Lock your stuff up Villagers! Nothing is safe these days!

Havana was the scene of the crime when Doug's putter was almost stolen but employee caught thief. Be careful folks.

[tophcfa]

Since you wanted Villages with no pets (Thread: Should there be villages with no pets?), I'm betting it was a dog.


:oops:

One club for each of the three people who want a Village with no pets?

[golfing eagles]

Havana was the scene of the crime when Doug's putter was almost stolen but employee caught thief. Be careful folks.

A friend had her clubs stolen there as well. Perhaps because there is a relatively quick getaway to 466A or Colony Plaza. The police recovered the clubs at a second hand sports store in Leesburg, which apparently was already on their radar. So, especially at Havana, park in the cart lot---A LOT harder to steal from there

[jparsoneau@aol.com]

Too bad you didn’t have a dog there protecting your stuff
The thief could’ve stepped in the dog poop the dog left and you could’ve tracked the dog poop ������

[Regorp]

Thursday afternoon when the rain began, my husband came back in to the golf shop at Havana to get a voucher. Unfortunately, nothing is safe anywhere.

Thief lifted up the golf cart flaps, tossed the cover of my friends iron onto the ground. my husband was not so lucky. Thief took the 6, 7 & 8 iron out of his bag. Makes no sense. Why take 3 irons? had some desirable woods and putter. Now the set is useless.

Wish they had cameras, love to find out what deplorable would do such a thing!

Lock your stuff up Villagers! Nothing is safe these days!
Perhaps the thief was heading to Pitch and Putt, needing clubs to go with his putter. Sorry for your loss.

[golfing eagles]

Perhaps the thief was heading to Pitch and Putt, needing clubs to go with his putter. Sorry for your loss.

A 6 iron at a pitch and putt????? Time to get a new caddy:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[OhioBuckeye]

Yea, no matter if TV is the friendliest city in the U. S. there’s always a thief in every town, city & Village. I think TV is getting worse instead of more friendly. Just depends where you come from & how they were raised. But you never know if the thief even was a resident there! But what can you do?

[Txcottage]

Thursday afternoon when the rain began, my husband came back in to the golf shop at Havana to get a voucher. Unfortunately, nothing is safe anywhere.

Thief lifted up the golf cart flaps, tossed the cover of my friends iron onto the ground. my husband was not so lucky. Thief took the 6, 7 & 8 iron out of his bag. Makes no sense. Why take 3 irons? had some desirable woods and putter. Now the set is useless.

Wish they had cameras, love to find out what deplorable would do such a thing!

Lock your stuff up Villagers! Nothing is safe these days!

Husband had range finder stolen from cart 2 days ago.

[Petersweeney]

It’s the caddy shack gofer…..

[tvbound]

Is there any chance those particular clubs were accidentally left next to a green and not actually stolen, especially if leaving the course quickly because of rain? Those are popular clubs to chip with and I can see "grabbing a small bag" when the ball is just off the green, but forgetting to grab them when leaving the course hastily due to a sudden rainfall. Hopefully, that is the case and checking back with Havana lost & found - will be successful in recovering them.

[jimjamuser]

Again, instead of commiserating, the usual suspects resort to (in their minds) humor. They just think they are soooo clever. I think some of them were dropped on their heads as children and never progressed beyond that age intellectually.

OP - Im sorry this happened. Yes, there is crime everywhere even in the bubble. You have gotten some good advice - those individual clubs can be replaced, so the set isnt useless. They probably dont rise to your deductible limits on your homeowners policy, so insurance isnt going to help. File a report, check the sales. Move on after learning a valuable lesson.
Im frankly amazed at the dollar value of clubs sitting unsecured in the backs of carts all over the villages and surprised there isnt more theft.
There are 3 values of the clubs here. The highest is the NEW retail price - that's what a person would have to pay to replace them from a golf equipment dealer. Then there is the used price which is probably only 40% of NEW - for something like selling them on eBay. Then there is the price of about 10% of NEW that a thief would get at a Pawn Shop.
........So, from the thief's point of view, there is NOT much money to be made and the RISK is high. Maybe they intend to sell it on eBay at that higher price and MAYBE (?) it would be worth the risk.
.........Maybe it was stolen by a YOUNG person that plays golf and gets a kleptomaniac thrill from stealing?
..........None of these reasons for stealing these clubs makes much sense. Just strange!

[Bogie Shooter]

Husband had range finder stolen from cart 2 days ago.

At the course, on a square, your drive way? Where did it happen.
Asking for a friend……

[Bogie Shooter]

There are 3 values of the clubs here. The highest is the NEW retail price - that's what a person would have to pay to replace them from a golf equipment dealer. Then there is the used price which is probably only 40% of NEW - for something like selling them on eBay. Then there is the price of about 10% of NEW that a thief would get at a Pawn Shop.
........So, from the thief's point of view, there is NOT much money to be made and the RISK is high. Maybe they intend to sell it on eBay at that higher price and MAYBE (?) it would be worth the risk.
.........Maybe it was stolen by a YOUNG person that plays golf and gets a kleptomaniac thrill from stealing?
..........None of these reasons for stealing these clubs makes much sense. Just strange!
I agree, weird way to steal clubs……if they were really stolen and not left somewhere……we will never know.

[mstraveller]

I was told, by a Village Restaurant Manager, that all the clubs and restaurants are watched very carefully. I find it hard to believe that many modest homes are equipped with cameras. I find it hard to believe that any building, owned by the Villages are not equipped with cameras. Perhaps they do not want to identify who is doing all this stealing,

[blueash]

Story sounds a little strange, but yes, the villages is huge these days and the population very diverse. It's not some warm, fuzzy, little town any more. .

Would you care to expand on your theory that diversity in the Villages has something to do with golf clubs being stolen? Interesting assumption. Tell me more.

[Pairadocs]

To the author, you can prevent theft by making a relatively inexpensive purchase at a Country Club golf shop. They sell covers that go over the top of the bag covering all clubs, have a cable that goes around your cart basket or support posts, through the hand grab on your bag, and using a lock you supply keeps the clubs and bag from being stolen or removed from your cart. I suppose a thief with cable cutters could still steal them, but in all likelyhood they would move on the an easier target.

Yes ! It's a deterrent, no guarantee but very little chance an amateur thief would want to stand there and mess with it, and a professional for sure would not. I've never had the others types (alarms) but there are a number of models available that are similar to an auto alarm when someone touches the bag/clubs. I personally did not buy that kind as you have to remember to turn it on when you leave your cart/clubs, and turn it OFF when you return... LOL !

[Love2Swim]

Yes ! It's a deterrent, no guarantee but very little chance an amateur thief would want to stand there and mess with it, and a professional for sure would not. I've never had the others types (alarms) but there are a number of models available that are similar to an auto alarm when someone touches the bag/clubs. I personally did not buy that kind as you have to remember to turn it on when you leave your cart/clubs, and turn it OFF when you return... LOL !

There have been thefts of golf clubs going on for years, and also thefts of golf carts. We get lulled into complacency here, but it pays to be vigilant.

[Mrmean58]

While the value of a stolen club is minimal to many of us, when someone has no money and needs any amount to support a vice, anything of any value is worth it to them. Try going to the Lady Lake Home Depot and view everything that is now locked up. Every tool of every value is under lock and key. It's a short drive from there to several golf courses in TV. I shake my head at the number of golf carts parked through out the community that have the keys hanging in the ignition.

[NoMo50]

After a career in law enforcement, I may not have seen it all, but I've surely seen most of it. The best thing you can do to keep from being a victim is to make yourself a hard target. The vast majority of thieves are opportunists...they take what is readily accessible, and easily obtained.

Whenever I plan on making a stop after a round of golf, I do this:

1. Golf bag is locked to the cart via a heavy cable bicycle lock. Lock it thru the basket or around the roof frame.
2. Put the rain cover on the bag, covering all clubs so they cannot be seen.
3. Lower the carts rain cover over the bag well and golf bags.

Doing these simple things makes you a harder target than the guy who does not take such measures. An opportunistic thief will move on to easier pickings. While it may be a mild hassle to do all this to secure your property, it is much less aggravating than having to replace expensive clubs.

[OhioBuckeye]

Maybe they just don’t want to get involved!

[OhioBuckeye]

Good idea though!!

[OhioBuckeye]

It’s just pretty sad that someone 55 & older would still be stealing anything. It might be a younger person that’s doing the stealing. You would think someone would have a fool proof way to protect what’s theirs. Like they have on cars a siren that sounds off if the car is touched. Sad world!

[dewilson58]

Whenever I plan on making a stop after a round of golf, I do this:

1. Golf bag is locked to the cart via a heavy cable bicycle lock. Lock it thru the basket or around the roof frame.
2. Put the rain cover on the bag, covering all clubs so they cannot be seen.
3. Lower the carts rain cover over the bag well and golf bags.
.

Good common sense things, but some golfers are jus ready for a new set of clubs.

[guitarguy]

I have a friend who left his clubs on his cart and his wife took the cart to a rec center. She then noticed the clubs were still on the cart. She called her husband and he took the car to get the clubs. Upon removing the clubs from the cart and placing them into the trunk a sheriff’s car pulled up to see if a thief had been caught. He was very pleased that each club had a name tag taped upon the shaft to prove ownership. He thanked the deputy and the deputy thanked him.

[Laker14]

I'm going to get the cable lock system. If a thief wants to break into my stuff, and goes through the trouble of dealing with the cable, he/she will be pretty disappointed at finding my sorry-a$$ clubs under there.

OP, I'm sorry for your hassle. When I was in college, living in a crappy neighborhood, I learned some folks will steal anything. I had someone break into my VW Beetle to steal my ice scraper. Whoever did that will burn in hell. I had one of those little hibachi charcoal grills, that back in the '70s cost all of $10. Mine was coated with years of crusty black chicken fat because I never cleaned it. Someone stole it, along with my porch swing.
Nothing surprises me when it comes to petty thievery.

[Calisport]

I was at Havana after finishing a round on Friday the day after your clubs were stolen, and wanted to eat at the Clubhouse but the parking was out of eyesight so I moved on. I had a feeling that clubs may have been stolen there if you can't see your cart.

[OhioBuckeye]

LOL, I guess you’re right!

[golfing eagles]

I'm going to get the cable lock system. If a thief wants to break into my stuff, and goes through the trouble of dealing with the cable, he/she will be pretty disappointed at finding my sorry-a$$ clubs under there.

OP, I'm sorry for your hassle. When I was in college, living in a crappy neighborhood, I learned some folks will steal anything. I had someone break into my VW Beetle to steal my ice scraper. Whoever did that will burn in hell. I had one of those little hibachi charcoal grills, that back in the '70s cost all of $10. Mine was coated with years of crusty black chicken fat because I never cleaned it. Someone stole it, along with my porch swing.
Nothing surprises me when it comes to petty thievery.

I guess there's always tying a mean Rottweiler on a 10-foot leash to your cart:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Laker14]

I guess there's always tying a mean Rottweiler on a 10-foot leash to your cart:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

Actually, a few years earlier than the hibachi incident, at a different school, also in a bad neighborhood, I left my dog on a line on my front porch. When I got home from class he had a "visitor" pinned in a corner. It was nobody I knew, and nobody who should have been on my porch.
I held the dog so he could leave, but I told him he was really lucky because my dog had "messed up" a few people who had tried to break in once. It was a made up story, but that dog could bark and snarl and growl like crazy.

[Papa_lecki]

///

[Bikehike]

It seems like the person just wanted to create havoc and ruin the set of clubs rather than actually steal them. It doesn't make sense to take three clubs.

[tvbound]

It seems like the person just wanted to create havoc and ruin the set of clubs rather than actually steal them. It doesn't make sense to take three clubs.

"It doesn't make sense to take three clubs."

I agree.

The more I think about it, the more I believe (as I mentioned earlier) that they were grabbed to chip a ball just off of the green and then left on the course. Sure would be nice if the OP wrote back and said they checked the lost and found at Havana, as most golfers are honest and I believe would have turned them in. Then again, that would require an admission of being incorrect about the charge of them being stolen - and a lot of people are reluctant to that kind of admission. Oh well, along with what really happened at Roswell...we'll probably never know. LOL

[Babubhat]

///

[kkingston57]

A set is NOT useless because a few irons were taken. Seriously?

Bad word to use: Useless. Does have a problem. You can not go into a golf shop and buy indivudual irons, except for wedges. Lost a 7 iron once and could not buy an indivudual 7 iron.

[kkingston57]

I'm going to get the cable lock system. If a thief wants to break into my stuff, and goes through the trouble of dealing with the cable, he/she will be pretty disappointed at finding my sorry-a$$ clubs under there.

OP, I'm sorry for your hassle. When I was in college, living in a crappy neighborhood, I learned some folks will steal anything. I had someone break into my VW Beetle to steal my ice scraper. Whoever did that will burn in hell. I had one of those little hibachi charcoal grills, that back in the '70s cost all of $10. Mine was coated with years of crusty black chicken fat because I never cleaned it. Someone stole it, along with my porch swing.
Nothing surprises me when it comes to petty thievery.

Some good cables cost more than some sorry ass clubs.

[Mrs.Guy]

Bad word to use: Useless. Does have a problem. You can not go into a golf shop and buy indivudual irons, except for wedges. Lost a 7 iron once and could not buy an indivudual 7 iron.

:shrug: Actually you can..... depends on where you are looking and what you are looking for.
An example: Goggle "individual golf irons" or Amazon.

[Dusty_Star]

Too bad you didn’t have a dog there protecting your stuff
The thief could’ve stepped in the dog poop the dog left and you could’ve tracked the dog poop ������

:bigbow: :a040:

[Dusty_Star]

Actually, a few years earlier than the hibachi incident, at a different school, also in a bad neighborhood, I left my dog on a line on my front porch. When I got home from class he had a "visitor" pinned in a corner. It was nobody I knew, and nobody who should have been on my porch.
I held the dog so he could leave, but I told him he was really lucky because my dog had "messed up" a few people who had tried to break in once. It was a made up story, but that dog could bark and snarl and growl like crazy.

Very smart! I hope you had no further trouble in that neighborhood - word tends to get around among thieves about where to steer clear of.

[Bikehike]

Bad word to use: Useless. Does have a problem. You can not go into a golf shop and buy indivudual irons, except for wedges. Lost a 7 iron once and could not buy an indivudual 7 iron.

A set is not useless but it's not the same when the clubs are not original. It's like a car accident. Many people will sell it after it's repaired.

[Laker14]

Very smart! I hope you had no further trouble in that neighborhood - word tends to get around among thieves about where to steer clear of.

Someone did successfully break in and steal typical college stuff; a camera, a tape deck, some other stuff...and my dog was with me out of town. Had he been in the house I'm sure the burglar(s) would have found a different apartment to break into.