Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

I just received this notice from a friend and wanted to pass it on.

I just want to let everyone know to use extreme caution when leaving their golf cart unattended at the town squares - particularly Spanish Springs.

Our golf cart was stolen from a lot in Spanish Springs behind the Rialto Theater sometime between 5:30 and 7:00 in broad daylight. The keys to the cart were in my pocket and the glove compartments were locked. According to the officer who took our statement, there has been a rash of thefts (approx. 55) over the past couple of months. They said there is a "ring" operating out of Marion County. While our cart is fairly distinctive, they offered little hope that it will be found.

Since the Daily Sun seems to be remiss in reporting this type of theft or information about this "ring", I thought everyone should know that unless you plan on sitting in your cart at the town square, or parking it where you can keep an eye on it, it may not be there when you get back. Please advise your friends of this.

We will be taking the car to Spanish Springs from now on! At least the car has an alarm!

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Sorry that your cart was stolen. Most carts have what is called common key, the same key fit all carts of same make. They do this for fleet carts and most of the carts being sold here were fleet carts at one time of other. If you have gotten another cart and have not changed the ignition key to uncommon key, I recommend that you do. Our friends cart was stolen at the Bowling Alley a couple months ago, the police told him there is no way to trace serial numbers unless it was a registered cart (LSV with plates and 17 digit serial number). We changed the ignition key on his new replacement cart.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

I don't know what the big deal about dumping on the newspaper is all about, but the Daily Sun has had several articles about golf cart theft over the last few months. One would have to be pretty obtuse not to know that there's been an increase in this activity of late. Does the paper report every cart theft or even every burglary? No, but this is a community of over 50,000 people perceived by many of our neighboring "townies" as being more affluent than we are and certainly more affluent than they are. We're a prime target for property crimes and we've got to accept that. Learn to live with it and take reasonable precautions or fret your life away.

Life's a :edit:. Get used to it.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

I'm sorry, I don't agree. We should not just "get use to" living with crime. Living in the Villages does not automatically exonerate residents from their social responsibilities of fighting crime. If in fact there have been 55 cart thefts recently, that is a "crime wave." It should be on the front page of the paper, on radio and television until the crime wave is over. We are "prime targets," because it is common knowledge that there is no dedicated law enforcement agency in this enormous enclave. Thieves steal where they can get away with it and not get caught. Life may be "a :edit:" but it is our responsibility to make it better and not to just "get use to it."

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

I totally agree with the Talk Host.
I can't get used to inexcusable behavior.
WE need to be vigilant and take note of people 'scoping' carts.
There's usually security of some sort around when it's busy and lots of carts in the area.
These thieves probably are operating when it busy and lots of 'fish in the sea'.
Many of us have cell phone cameras.
Start taking pictures of carts being loaded onto flatbeds being pulled by pickups.
These carts are not being driven to Ocala so they have to be loaded. I'd pay particular attention to this activity in mail station lots or rec center lots. The theives probably drive the cart away from downtown and to lots like that or maybe around Publix or Albertsons or Sweetbay. All flatbed trailors should be considered a suspect.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Maybe some of these items would help prevent theft.
http://www.golfcartaccessories.net/c...ite-locks.aspx

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Like it or not, crime has, does, and will exist. It's one of the ugly sides of human nature. You may not want to "get use to" living with it, but if you don't, if you let its existence get to you, you'll go crazy. TV is, by comparison to most places of similar size, a very safe environment. Violent crime is almost nonexistent for now (knock on wood) and property crime is minimal. But yes, it does happen, so it is incumbent upon all of us to take proper actions to reduce the likelihood of being a victim. Lock you house. Take the keys out of your cart when you park it. Even get a unique key system. Will this make your house and your cart totally safe? No. There will still be break-ins and thefts, but you'll make it a bit harder for the bad guys and they'll possibly pass you up and look for an easier target.

You bemoan the lack of a "dedicated law enforcement agency in this enormous enclave". As you well know, this is a political impossibility in that TV straddles 3 counties and at least 2 municipalities. TV cannot create their own law enforcement agency. I will concede that it can do a better job with the Village/Neighborhood Watch patrols and interaction with existing law enforcement agencies.

We'll never agree about the paper. I think they do an adequate job. You evidently find them severely lacking. :dontknow: But I do think you're right about the Democrat candidates.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

This is the essence of what Muncle stated...and I very much agree with the Serenity Prayer philosophy this comment represents.* Adapt and protect yourself from what can't be changed...change what you can.* Learn the difference.* Learn to live with what can't be changed.* Those who think they will ever live in a place totally free of crime are deceiving themselves and are fretting their life away if they are dismayed by it.

I appreciate the tip about changing your locks on the carts.* Talk about ripe for the pickin'.* What if all houses had the same locks and there was a string of burglaries.* Would we give up the house when it only costs a few bucks to take action to change our locks?* We do sound like a helpless group of ol' f---s sometimes.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

One of the options available to The Villages is "Contract Coverage" with the three Sheriff's Departments. That is to pay for dedicated patrols inside the Villages proper. This is a system used in many states where local police departments are not a viable option. (In fact, when I was a deputy in Ohio, I was contracted to Poland Township. I was a county deputy, but my paycheck came from Poland Townshp." The deputies would be completely commissioned as they are now, and would be available to assist on backup calls outside, but their primary job would be to patrol our streets. That would be a giant step in the right direction.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

I agree this is an option but not a good one.*

Here's why.

Which ever part of TV you live in, you are in one county or another - counties that are responsible for effective law enforcement.* As a strong and unified political force in each of these three counties, Villages residents should demand effective law enforcement, with appropriate funding.* I understand each County is somewhat rural, especially Sumter.* They probably have a rural government and law enforcement mentality...meaning that they have minimal resources, capacity, and expectations for their effectiveness - with primary reliance on the older rural ethic of neighbors taking care of business.

I have a difficult time*accepting what amounts to "double taxation" by paying for supplemental contract law enforcement when the taxes we're paying, or maybe a smidgeon more county wide, ought to buy effective enforcement.* What you want to bet that each portion of TV in each County in which its located already pays a disproportionately larger share of taxes per square mile than does the NON-Villages portions of those counties?* We should press for improved presence of law enforcement through the taxes we're already paying before we cave into the idea of paying only out of our pockets for supplemental policing.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

As someone who is in TV often by myself I want to change my ignition key to an uncommon one. Any recommendations where I can go for the best price to do the switch?

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Oh, they haven't told you about that one? The builders got a great price on door locks and only have to keep one master key. It makes it much easier.


I'm kidding! :joke: evil6

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Las Angeles city residents pay taxes to support the Las Angeles County Sheriff's department and they pay for the Las Angeles City Police department as well. The same is true in Kansas City, New York, Chicago and every other city that has a police department. Yet, those sheriff's patrols do not routinly work inside the cities. Actually the Sheriff is not required to provide police patrols, they do it only as a supplemental service to the tax payers. Many counties in the United State provide only jail services and process serving.

If the Marion County portion of The Villages represents only 3% of the entire county, then we will get only 3% of the sheriff's patrol (maybe less). I don't think it is reasonable to think that the sheriff is going to increase anything inside the Villages. We have to look out for ourselves, even if it means paying a "smidgen" extra for added safety.

The Villages has it's own Fire/Rescue department, yet we all pay taxes for Marion, Sumter and Lake County Fire/Rescue. I haven't heard anybody squawk about it. Is there a difference in the two discussions?

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Muncle...your humor keeps me alert

Are you really kidding? ::)

OMG...do I now need a golf cart ignition switcher and a door lock switcher?

I am getting paranoid.... :realmad:

Just joking too... ??? ??? ??? ???

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

I totally agree with Talk Show host!!!!

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

I posted this once before somewhere - maybe could be useful here too....

http://www.buggiesunlimited.com/prod...V%20BU&cat=156

I guess it works like a car alarm, complete with a clicker. Maybe a good thing.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

I feel you can buy as many devices you like to protect your golf cart, bottom line is that if someone wants to steal it they will know how to deactivate the device or how to hot wire your cart to steal it.

I forget how many seconds it takes for thieves to start a car or strip it.

The police, whether it is a dedicated force or not, can not be everywhere at the same time. The thieves know that also.

It is just a sad commentary of our times - I do not know if there are any quiet safe villages left, yes some areas are safer than others.

We live in a small rural town that we thought was extremely safe - then reality hit. Yes, it was a shock for all of us, that this crime could happen here, but it did.

So if you see any suspicious activities call 911 or as suggested take a picture with your camera.

Once again IMHO.

Hyacinth Bucket

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Fire districts generally have their own taxing districts.* I assume that is the case here.* On the other hand, to make the distinction, the Sheriff's office is county wide. Taxes from all Villagers are being paid for the county wide Sheriff's services.* If there is a burglary in unincorporated Marion County, will the Sheriff respond?* Or do they only provide "court services' out there?* My point is, despite what "some" jurisdictions do in other states, in this area, the sheriff's office is expected to provide full service law enforcement services in unincorporated areas - and we should expect that service here to a greater extent than the primarily rural areas of the county do - because we are NOT rural, although we are still a part of the County that pays taxes for Sheriffs services, and we contibute more revenue per acre than rural areas do.* This is an equity issue.

The sheriff only provides it as a "supplemental service"? - What, only out of the goodness of their hearts?* Becauses they have nothing else to do with their time?* It makes more sense that they have a particular mandate from some higher authority - perhaps the elected sheriff - or the County Commission.* I again assume the Sheriff is a constitutional officer, elected by the electorate of the county where he serves.

Does TV portion of Marion County represent only 3% of the population or 3% of the land area?* That can make a difference.* Whatever the percentage and degree of influence TV portion of Marion County represents, the percentage of population (and therefore the political influence) of TV portion of Sumter County is certain to be much greater.

My point is there are inequities.* We shouldn't just roll over, play dead, and accept them.* Those segments of TV that have a potential for significant influence on the political process to make a difference in the level of service the established sheriff's office provides in the TV portion of their County ought to make that effort before they give it up, accept minimal rural sheriff's services, and agree to spend hundreds more per year on contract policing services.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

So HB, using your logic, we should not bother to lock or alarm anything, as it will be stolen anyway.....

I really don't agree. By making it more challenging to take your stuff (be it car, cart, or home contents) I think you reduce the chances that you become a victim. I agree the "professional thief" will be able to get by any device placed in their way, and may even look at it as a challenge, a la Thomas Crown. But most thieves (most criminals) are really stupid people who take what they have a chance to easily grab. If your cart has an alarm and an ignition kill switch, I think it will be less likely to be driven off or put into a truck. They'll go for an easier target.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

The golf cart theft problem has reached disturbing proportions. It is clearly a trend that should have been addressed by local police authorities. Hopefully, I am underestimating them and they are working on the problem. In a previous post, I cited the complexities and possible remedies for the unique crime trends and policing complexities that are linked to the Villages multi-jurisdictional composition. The context involved the burglary issue but is also applicable to the cart theft problem.

Several factors that need to be considered include the overlapping of policing responsibilities between three counties and a municipality. A basis for establishing crime patterns and trends is the accumulation and archiving of criminal activity data. I don't know whether that is occurring on regional or jurisdictional basis, or, at all in the Villages. Such documentation, which is fairly easy to program with today's technology, would be a useful tool in identifying crime patterns, projecting crime hazard areas and deploying available resources that reduce the likelihood of crimes being committed.

An oversimplified theory of crime spells out three components that need to exist for crime to occur. They are motivation, opportunity and a belief that it will be successful.

As to motive, more than likely most crimes in the Villages are committed by transients from neighboring areas. The motives and remedies are largely social issues that the average Villager can do little about. The opportunity increases or decreases proportionate to the omnipresence created by conspicuous police patrols, good alarm systems, large dogs and good neighbors. The belief that a crime will be successful speaks to investigative efforts that lead to apprehension and conviction rates.

Are the law enforcement agencies, Sumter County Sheriff, Marion County Sheriff, Lake County Sheriff, and Lady Lake PD accumulating, sharing, analyzing and acting on crime data from the Villages?

Would a special joint Villages Task Force be a more effective approach to patrolling and responding to the crime patterns attributable to the demographics and unique circumstances of our community? Who has the political clout and contacts to bring this to the table?

A joint task force properly organized and directed could reduce or eliminate this problem in short order. A multifaceted joint effort that includes:

Investigation and intelligence gathering on a regional or statewide basis to determine the target market areas for stolen carts. This essentially means attacking the problem from the back end and working to the source or actual theft component. The use of police stings has been very effective in reducing other burglary and theft type crimes.

Concurrent with the above action, target areas, times and patterns should be identified by the collation of existing data. A combination of marked and undercover patrols, stakeouts in prime areas, the use of gps technology in "bait" vehicles to identify end destinations. The ever important alerting of the public to the scope of the problem and requesting public support by encouraging prevention remedies and the reporting of suspicious activity is vital to success.

A final facet would be to coordinate the application of political and/or media pressure on cart manufacturers to enhance anti-theft and cart identification potential. Local cart dealers could also get involved by adding these enhancements and marketing them accordingly.

This in not rocket science and if it not happening, we should be asking why it isn't. While I have read about some cart theft activity in the Daily Sun, nothing suggests the scale of the problem as represented on this board. I would really like to hear from our local law enforcement authorities on this issue.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

:agree:* Cabo has the right approach.* Everything he suggests should be done through the cooperation and coordination of the existing policing authorities in the three counties and in Lady Lake.* I am certain that the charters for the respective jurisdictions and respective law enforcement agencies supports this.* It is a matter of the will and skill to follow through.* The will is encouraged through political pressure and reason.

Let's do what we can through existing agencies before we get serious about costly alternatives.* The last thing I want to happen is to give the existing agencies we already pay for an excuse for not doing their jobs, thinking "oh, those rich Village People (NOT) will pay a million or so bucks per year for extra cops.* We don't really need to do an effective job inside that place."

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

With every one of those 3 and 4 hundred thousand dollar ads that the Villages buys on national teleivision, they say, "live the lifestyle of a millionaire." What else would somebody think.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

I sure would like to know what the factual, actual number of golf cart thefts in the past 6 months is. If it is 55, then, yikes, that is disturbing. But, so far, I've read in a web post that someone's friend (who had a cart stolen) was told by someone at sheriff's dept that 55 had been stolen. Is this a true figure or urban legend?

Mr Sun Reporter, if you're out there, help quell (or affirm) the rumors that are swirling.

Regardless, lots of good advice in this thread about how to protect yourself and be more aware of what you see out there.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

The Daily Sun reported in this mornings paper that a 3rd Golf Cart was reported stolen this month" (March) on monday and that this was the 9th golf cart reported missing to Lady lake police since the start of 2008. The most recent loss occurred in Spanish Springs behind "Church on the Square"

What is unclear from this story is do these loss stats reflect the the entire Village community ie Sumter County Sherrif ??

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

It may be informative to call the Sun Reporter and ask directly.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

One golf cart theft is one too many.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Bright :agree: :agree:

HB

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

We do have a lot of cameras around. Are they recording or just for show?

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Notwithstanding some good suggestions and possible long-term solutions, can anyone suggest, in practical and immediate terms, any kind of lock that can be used effectively to disable a golf cart and/or make it very difficult to be pushed up onto a trailer. Anything that can lock the steering wheel or a boot of some sort on one of the cart wheels or some other device?

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

junglejim - good question. I do not know the answer, perhaps someone does.

HB

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

A call to one or two of your favorite golf cart companies should get you answers on this question.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

The original post in this thread was also on the Virginia Trace forum board. There was an update posted there yesterday. Here it is:

Re: Stolen Golf Carts in The Spanish Springs area.
Last week I posted a warning sent to me about golf carts being stolen.
Here is a message from a person who read that warning:
"Maxine, I called the Lady Lake Police Department today. When I told them that
there was a rumor that 55 golf carts had been stolen (etc.) I was told that
number was excessive. Although the person I talked to could not give me an
exact number, she indicated that maybe a dozen was closer. "

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Think the post said "55 thefts"? This could mean thefts of other stuff related to golf carts like golf clubs, bags, etc.

Quote from original post by Caper. "According to the officer who took our statement, there has been a rash of thefts (approx. 55) over the past couple of months."

Doubt if thefts of golfing items like clubs and the like make the Villages Daily Sun. This could also mean in other communities with golf carts in Lake, Sumter and Marion County. Must be a lot of communities in these Counties where some of the residents also have their own golf carts or use golf carts at various golf courses??

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Today's Daily Sun (Local section page C5) states two carts were stolen from Golf Car World over the past weekend. The article goes on to state "Since the beginning of the year, 11 golf carts have been reported stolen in or around The Villages."

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Would "The Club" work in these situations, wedged between the steering wheel and the brake pedal?

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

So far it's 11 carts since the first of the year. Two of them were stolen from a dealership. I also recall that a couple were stolen from Villages carts by some teens and the carts were actually recovered. So perhaps it's as few as 7 private stolen carts and not recovered.

Conservatively there are 60,000 residents here. So figure 30K in residences on the low side. Going really conservative and assuming snow birds etc. assume there are 10,000 golf carts. The odds of an one persons car being stolen are slim to none despite the recent thefts, even if 100 carts were stolen.

If somebody wants your cart, they are going to get it. The Club, special key, Lojack or whatever. Unless you have some type of speciality ultra expensive cart don't waste your
money on theft prevention. Use common sense, take the keys out and park it in the open when out in public. Then don't worry about it.

Collision and theft insurance is extremely inexpensive. I pay less than $60 per year for that coverage on a $6,000 cart. From an insurance company perspective the numbers of thefts are "actuarily insignificant".

On ocassion things get somewhat exaggerated on this site. Save your worrying for the normal stuff, high cholesterol and blood pressure, arthritis, knee replacement etc. and forget the golf cart theft "problem".

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Boy I hate it when people do this, but :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree: :agree:

I suspect your moderately conservative estimate of 30K carts is fairly close to accurate. And I agree that, like cars, if they really want your cart they're going to get it regardless of any theft prevention short of Couzin Bubba (not Bubbalarry) with a 12 gauge sitting in the front seat. As you say, just use common sense and, if it happens, it happens.

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It's 10,000 carts, 30,000 homes. I think that's a very low estimate on carts, but it illustrates the slim odds of being involved in a theft.

Re: Golf Carts are Disappearing
 

Sorry about my misread. I believe your estimates are low, as you said. If we've got 65K+ residents, I suspect that's close to 40K homes. And just from anecdotal observation, I'd think 90% would have carts. But it doesn't matter. Even your lowest numbers demonstrated the point well.