Shopping in Golf Carts

[2BNTV]

Being a newbie to the golf cart world, I was wondering if anyone has had trepedations, about leaving stuff in their cart, while making several stops at various stores?

Do you feel safe in doing this, as no one will bother with it?

Has anyone had any experiences, where theft is a possibility?

Just askin....... not accusing.....Inquiring minds want to know..... like me....

[borjo]

Sure I worry some about it. I sometimes put items in the ice cooler or hide it under other stuff in my basket. I won't leave groceries in bags hanging from my straps when I go into another store. I usually don't visit more than 2 stores, really don't want to tempt anyone.

[Doctommft]

2B:

I shop Walmart's first, then Fresh Market. I have no problems in TV where shoppers are mostly Villagers. I've never hesitated stopping with my golf clubs in tote. When I first got here, I was nervous even leaving a hat in my cart. Coming from the northeast, like you, we know things walk if left loose. Not so much in TV.

Good Luck. Tom

[redwitch]

It is a risk to leave stuff in the cart but not a major one. However, I'd say a lot depends on what kind of shopping -- I'd be hesitant with Belk's/Chico's bags on my cart. I don't worry about groceries (except getting stuff home before it melts or defrosts if I plan to do more than just shop for groceries). Hardware stuff really depends on what I've purchased -- tools I wouldn't leave behind; small stuff no worries. I don't recommend shopping and then going to a restaurant to eat without taking items with you -- it seems that's when most things have been stolen off of carts.

As Tom said, theft is not so much of a problem in TV than it is in most towns with a population of 100,000.

[thekeithfan]

Leaving stuff in a cart (especially clubs) BIG MISTAKE! Just ask any Sheriff of any county. People are people lots of thieves among us in The Villages!

[Jim 9922]

I wouldn't trust anything that is not screwed down. Over the years we have had a gate pass card, 2 generic garage door openers, a small bag of used golf balls, and 2 small clocks and a digital thermometer valcroed to the dash, disappear in the shopping areas or at town squares. Nothing worth much.
Petty yes, but sad all the same.:mad:

[zcaveman]

If we shop at more than one store, one of us sits in the golf cart at the other stores to "guard" our purchases. There are too many opportunists out there that would take a bag just because it is there.

Z

[Bogie Shooter]

Leaving "stuff" in an unattended golf cart is asking for trouble. Why would you even think of doing such a thing?

[Golfingnut]

Lock valuables in the trunk.


27915

[JE Greenwood]

2B:

I shop Walmart's first, then Fresh Market. I have no problems in TV where shoppers are mostly Villagers. I've never hesitated stopping with my golf clubs in tote. When I first got here, I was nervous even leaving a hat in my cart. Coming from the northeast, like you, we know things walk if left loose. Not so much in TV.

Good Luck. Tom

Tom,
I am from the NE also. I feel the same way a bit leery of leaving anything on the cart. I forgot my purse on the cart one day and when I realized, an hour later, I went back and there it was.
I feel more comfortable in the squares than at the shopping centers. If we do have packaged I leave them in the cooler/trunk on my cart.
So far so good!

[Happinow]

I would say better be safe than sorry. I guess if you left a few groceries in your cart and someone took them then no harm, no foul. I wouldn't leave anything valuable in there tho. Why tempt people? I think, for the most part, things are pretty safe here. However, if someone is brave enough to break into your home in broad daylight, then they are brave enough to steel something out of your cart. It doesn't have to be a villager.

[DonH57]

Usually we grocery shop at one of the stores at a time and bring the cold/frozen stuff straight home. We seldom shop at the retail stores and cart a lot of stuff to home. I only transport my golf clubs to the driving ranges or courses and directly back home. I never parade around with them. Too many stolen club stories in the paper especially when they are stolen in the parking lots of the country clubs. I noticed one nite at Evans Praire most of the golf carts are parked on the blind side of the building. No way you could watch your cart. In addition to the cost of replacing the clubs it would be the pain of having to find the replacements I want.

[Kimandhim19981@gmail.com]

I put a black plastic sack inside our "shopping basket" and I put the bags inside that so people cannot see if there are any bags inside, has worked so far.

[nhgolfer1]

Left a hybred 2 iron on the floor of my cart while I went into the library and it was gone when I returned. Hope the one who has it raps himslf in the head when he swings it.LOL.

[Matzy]

I don't know why, but I never had a problem that anything was missing out of my golf cart. Maybe it is also a kind of mind setting….. what I am thinking it comes that way. I trust (maybe too much).

[boomerbaby]

I never leave anything in the golf cart since the day someone stole my husbands windbreaker from the cart while he was at walmart. Just not worth the chance.

[ConnecticutYankee]

We have a large black mesh shopping bag that hooks onto the straps that hold golf clubs. I have left bags from one store in there while I shop at another. Never had a problem. We also park in visible places. If we go to lunch after golf, we pull the cover over the clubs so they are not easily accessible. While I think it's pretty safe here, you still have to be careful……..don't make it easy for a would-be thief.

[RuthM]

We just recently had our gate pass stolen from our cart. Annoying and sad that someone would stoop to such levels.

[AriaGrandparents2013]

To date have not had a problem........I purchased a bag that attaches on the back of my cart in which I place my groceries. I do hesitate in leaving anything of valuable in the cart as we shop and the few times we have left stuff we place in the basket behind the seat hidden under a blanket.

So far we haven't had anything taken.

[murray607]

We just recently had our gate pass stolen from our cart. Annoying and sad that someone would stoop to such levels.

These are crimes of opportunity. There seems to be a mentality that if it is left out, seemingly for the taking, so then it can be taken.
It is not just hardened criminals that do the stealing.
My father in law who worked for the RCMP in Canada said you would be surprised by just who steals. He knew of professional people who were kleptomaniacs, including spouses of politicians, church leaders etc.
It is hard to profile who may steal from you. I once had a seedy looking character come up behind me and stop me. I was a bit taken aback and wondered what his intent was. Then he held out my overcoat which I had left in a store and said "I think you will need this". It is not always those who look suspicious that we should look out for.

[Indydealmaker]

If you insist on shopping from your golf cart, you could try using a deterrent like this:
Pacsafe 85L Bag and Backpack Protector (http://pacsafe.com/pacsafe-85l-backpack-protector)

[NotGolfer]

We grocery shop with our golf cart..have one of those mesh bags plus we'll take a cooler for dairy, meat and frozen products. We've never had anything missing...although anything could happen. My "take" on this is "if" they think they need it worse than we do...then it can be replaced. If shopping in other stores I've taken the bags with me just to be safe. So I guess it's up to you on what you feel comfortable with.

I'd say, regarding my above comments, I really am a careful person but don't feel one can worry about what "might" happen in this life.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Being a newbie to the golf cart world, I was wondering if anyone has had trepedations, about leaving stuff in their cart, while making several stops at various stores?

Do you feel safe in doing this, as no one will bother with it?

Has anyone had any experiences, where theft is a possibility?

Just askin....... not accusing.....Inquiring minds want to know..... like me....

Are you a newbie to the real world? Would you leave stuff in your unlocked car? Thing do get stolen out of golf carts in spite of what some people say even here in TV

[JC and John]

If you don't golf, you may want to consider getting one of the Yamaha carts and getting the lockable trunk accessory. We have the little trunk and love it. Don't know how much they cost. That being said would never tempt fate by putting a really expensive item in there and go off and leave my cart unattended and out of sight. Since the trunk is small we don't do any big shopping. Yes, I know that if a thief wants to get in the trunk he will. We do leave water bottles and soda cups out in the open. I say go for it if you are that desperate to steal a soda cup!

[bargee]

I suggest you keep a close eye on your gate cards.With this" Hullabalu" over the Paradise gate they could be a sought after item.

[looneycat]

Being a newbie to the golf cart world, I was wondering if anyone has had trepedations, about leaving stuff in their cart, while making several stops at various stores?

Do you feel safe in doing this, as no one will bother with it?

Has anyone had any experiences, where theft is a possibility?

Just askin....... not accusing.....Inquiring minds want to know..... like me....

simple answer, tons of golf clubs have been stolen, especially from carts parked in back lots (behind stores) just check the local sheriffs blotters because you will rarely see any of the crimes in the villages reported in the daily sun as it is nothing more than a sales tool. haven't seen much on stolen groceries though.

[Bogie Shooter]

simple answer, tons of golf clubs have been stolen, especially from carts parked in back lots (behind stores) just check the local sheriffs blotters because you will rarely see any of the crimes in the villages reported in the daily sun as it is nothing more than a sales tool. haven't seen much on stolen groceries though.

:a20::a20:

[Shimpy]

I'm more concerned with items left in the cart at Wal Mart or places on the outer fringe of TVs such as Spanish Springs and Brownwood. My cart is a Yamaha and I bought one of their trunks for the rear which holds quite a bit of stuff and has locks. If you are a golfer then it wouldn't appeal to you as it would be where your bags set.

[looneycat]

:a20::a20:

ok...pounds and pounds, 12 sets reported in a 2 weekperiod....betcha a ton by the end of the year

[jebartle]

Dog Poop!:1rotfl:

[Justjac]

We plan our golf-cart shopping trips so that we don't leave any items sitting and tempting others. And don't be fooled into thinking people won't take items simply because you are in the Villages. I actually had two "green" shopping bags and one rather expensive tote bag stolen from my grocery cart when I left my cart unattended....

You read that correctly...the items were stolen from my grocery cart when I wandered away for just a few seconds...in a very crowded store. Because of that, I won't leave ANYTHING of value in an unattended golf cart. It's just too easy for someone to reach in and snatch whatever they think they are entitled to.

Nowadays, you have to try to out-think a thief...don't entice them!

[patfla06]

I wouldn't leave anything in my golf cart.
The New Yorker in me has never left.
I still walk through Publix with my hand through my purse
handles. :rolleyes:

[Sanbo]

Better safe than sorry. Take your valuables with you, or lock them up.

[Barefoot]

... We've never had anything missing...although anything could happen. My "take" on this is "if" they think they need it worse than we do...then it can be replaced. If shopping in other stores I've taken the bags with me just to be safe. .... I really am a careful person but don't feel one can worry about what "might" happen in this life.


I don't know why, but I never had a problem that anything was missing out of my golf cart. Maybe it is also a kind of mind setting….. what I am thinking it comes that way. I trust (maybe too much).

Like Matzy and NotGolfer, I've never had anything taken from my golf cart when I use it for occasional shopping. Of course, theft is always a possibility. I sure wouldn't leave expensive jewellery or a wallet in my golf cart.

I've seen some people leave their dogs in their golf cart while they shop. I wouldn't do that either.

[festusrules]

Other than a short stop at Publix or Subway after golf, I no longer park my cart with golf clubs exposed. When we visited TV in 2009 I was amazed by how many people parked their carts at LSL with their clubs attached. Times have changed, as it is rarely done today.

[kaydee]

I leave nothing in my cart. If I stop at Bealls and then make a stop at the grocery I take my purchased items in to the 2nd store with me..I do the same if making a stop at 2 different grocery stores. Naturally I stop first at the grocery where I pick up the least so I can easily tote it into the second store.