You have been warned
 

thieves among us. Praying on golf cart in Parking lots with unsecured items (like golf clubs). No parking lot is safe. Anything you leave in or on your golf cart is subject to be gone if not secured. It only takes few seconds to unleash golf clubs and pack the off.
Same goes for cars left unlocked or visible items in the seats.

Don't be victim, watch for people surveying easy pick'ens When going into and coming out of rec centers. Remember, it's us they are stealing from. We are the one that will catch them in the act by being aware of our surrounding and report anything unusual.

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Over the last 4 months I have personally known 4 people that been relieved of there property in the Rec centers parking lots While participating in activity. It also made the news paper off campus today. Why not just secure items left on golf cart especially expensive golf clubs that I bet they get maybe 100 bucks when pawned?

It happened at the Spruce Creek Golf and Country Club but it has happened here not a lot but it can happen. People just need to be aware.

I agree, and I am always aware of my clubs. I park my cart in the back in the golf parking lot when I have lunch at country clubs. Also I have a lock on my bag. One of the reasons I have not replaced my very out of style golf bag that is still good is that no one would want it. No one has taken my golf gloves, or my cheese crackers ....except once or twice the birds. Very good advice, Top, but I thought you meant we had an avalanche of thefts here recently. If I am not playing golf, my clubs stay home.

How does parking in the back of the golf parking lot help deter thieves? Do tell the secret!

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Don't be cheap, people - buy one of those lockable bag covers at anyone of the country clubs for $49.95, less your 10% Villager discount. Run the cables thru the cart basket and loop it back to the front and secure everything with a lock (you'll have to provide it).

Additionally, try to park your cart in a more visible spot than the back of a parking lot, especially if you're going to be a cheapskate and not buy one of the covers. My wife and I each have one; spending $49.95 to save $2,000+ was a no-brainer.

Found... Lockable club cover
 

Found, one lockable club cover with master lock attached. Found at the entrance of the tunnel under 466A at Colony Rec Center tonight around 7:30. If you can unlock the lock, it is yours. Call 573-225-1740

Just posted in The Villages Friendly Folks group.

Timely....

There's cause to be concerned, but you seem a bit over the top. Don't bring your clubs or other valuables to any parking lot other than the ones used by the golfers at the championship course or exec. parking lot.

That will take care of about 99% of the thefts. If you can't figure out how to leave your clubs at home perhaps the few(thousands play golf here)thieves will thank you....

Good question.

Common sense says that parking in an area with less people/cars, gives the the thieves a better chance at getting away with it. :shrug:

I was not clear. At the country clubs here there are parking lots for golfers, usually to the side or back of the clubhouse. This is separate from the front parking lot for diners and folks who buy at the golf shop. There is usually a lot of coming and going as people finish their rounds, and stop for a cold drink and a bite. All of us golfers feel our clubs are a little safer there. Even with my clubs locked, I don't like to park out front.

Thanks for the clarification. That makes way more sense to me now. It's where I always park, too. Maybe we will meet up in the golf cart parking lot sometime in the next 6 months!

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I really appreciate the warning. Sometimes we forget there is crime almost everywhere (except maybe a monastery).

But for myself I have to be realistic. I am of an age where remembering what I had for breakfast sometimes is on a par with remembering how to do the math section in the SAT's. And being new to golf cart commuting, I have recently forgotten to take the keys out of the cart, left the lights on and didn't put the foot break on. Remembering to lock my clubs would just add another section to my SAT's. So if there is a wolf in our paradise chicken coop, and he is randomly lucky enough to pick on my cart, I will just contact my insurance company and at least limit my loss to $500.

However, there is an asset out there that I think could help this problem - those shiny white neighborhood watch cars driving around at 2 and 3 am. I truly wonder how many thieves they are scaring away. First, the most likely target would be an open garage door. I have walked around our neighborhood during that time when I could not sleep. The only one I ever saw open was mine, which I had forgotten close when I left for my walk. I think a patrol of these guys in the club parking lots during the day would prevent a lot more thefts than early morning patrols.

Use you phone if you suspect something going on say nothing just snap a photo.

Just keep this in mind, there AREN'T a lot of thefts of clubs OR carts. But it doesn't HURT to be careful. I have NEVER asked Sweetie which was most important, his clubs or me. I am not stupid.;)

well, which one does he lock up? :a040:

Love the humor graciegirl.

Crime is very low in the Villages and we have a lot of eyes out there keeping us safe. But we should always be careful.

I understand that in Florida if a pawn shop has your stuff they are allowed to charge you for getting back your stuff even if it's stolen. Surely they must know if a meth head is pawning golf clubs they aren't his.

I have wondered about the same thing.

I'll have to research that, but it doesn't sound right (it would be a first for any state I've lived in).

Especially if you have filed a police report and can 'absolutely' identify your property.

Which is why, besides the standard label on the shaft that can be easily removed, I use an engraver and put my tiny initials in a very obscure location on each club.

Making sure that is included in the police report, should establish without a doubt the ownership of my clubs.

Given that it would take literally thousands of dollars to replace my set, I'm not taking any chances.

I don't golf, but I have always wondered about how safe golf bags are in golf carts while the owners are having a meal or an after rounds drink.

Makes me sad that you would have to go all the way home to leave your golf clubs in order to enjoy a little comraderie after a game!

It is true. I can verify this based on experience :(. You pay the pawn shop what they paid the :censored: that stole them, not what they are trying to sell them for.

One of my stolen club posts

With the advent of battery operated grinders and lock can be defeated in seconds.

Further research...

Lee County Sheriff's Office | Lee County, Florida | CrimeActivity | JailInfoIndex

How about disguising the clubs under a bunch of beat-up brand-X head covers?

agree
 

That is why I dislike pawn shops. They know that a lot of items they buy are stolen and could care less.. I am speaking as a relative of a pawn shop owner and past experience.

WOW - I always thought a pawn owner would be in trouble with the law, for receiving stolen goods.

I guess television shows are not a good source for legal information. :(

I use a bicycle cable lock. Much cheaper and works well.

A lot of people "Nine and Dine." that means golf clubs on the back of your cart. I would spend the $49 like mentioned above. Even though my clubs are a bit less than $2K. Okay, a lot less.

I used to think that too, but a recent comment to an article in the online newspaper mentioned that an owner found her stolen items in a pawn shop, and despite the police being involved, she had to buy them back from the pawn shop.

Few clubs locked up
 

I have observed very very few golf clubs secured on the back of carts. What does this say? Most (including myself) just don't see the need. I've been golfing for many moons and I have never lost a club to a thief. The clubs I lost myself (leaving them on the course) have always been returned. Following a round of golf, I always park my golf cart with others who have also finished their round of golf. If others want to lock their clubs go for it. Fore.

Most Clubs I've casually observed are probably not worth the $49.95 to protect them. I'd love to tell an Insurance Co that my stolen clubs are worth $2000 even though I play pretty good with the ones I have.

Depends on the deductible you have chosen. many insurance companies have agreements with companies to replace what you lost or was stolen.

Frankly I would not disturb my insurance policy for a small claim like this . also what you are suggesting is fraud

As to the cable locks while they are not full proof the fact remains that you at least let the theft work harder for his money. Nothing can prevent a determined thief but I am sure as heck going to make their path to my stuff exasperating as is possible:grumpy:

The thieves may be looking for the ball retreiver with the new grip! :police:

Pawn shop = legalized fencing! All I got to say about that.

Pawn shops have good Lobbists, your policitial system at its finest.

LOL. I am sure "Sweetie" has an old set buried somewhere to replace the old one and if the cart went with it, he wouldn't have to choose. Simply volunteer to be his caddy.

Even after ColdNoMore posted the applicable law, several persons have continued to post wrong information.

Pawn shops in Florida are licensed. Each item brought in is required to be listed on a form with a full description as well as the name and a thumb print of the individual who presented the item for pawning. If the item was "misappropriated" (stolen) then the person from whom the item was stolen absolutely does NOT have to buy it back. Does NOT have to pay any court or sheriff fees. The pawnbroker must return the stolen item to the owner and pay any court and attorney fees the owner incurred in recovering the item.
The pawnbroker may contest the claim of the owner but if he loses there are additional costs.

Please, don't make up stuff. It is fine to get it wrong based on an online news story, but once somebody posts the correct information, then really it seems that should end the erroneous postings.

Here is the Florida law: 539.001 The Florida Pawnbroking Act
15) CLAIMS AGAINST PURCHASED GOODS OR PLEDGED GOODS HELD BY PAWNBROKERS.—
(a) To obtain possession of purchased or pledged goods held by a pawnbroker which a claimant claims to be misappropriated, the claimant must notify the pawnbroker by certified mail, return receipt requested, or in person evidenced by signed receipt, of the claimant’s claim to the purchased or pledged goods. The notice must contain a complete and accurate description of the purchased or pledged goods and must be accompanied by a legible copy of the applicable law enforcement agency’s report on the misappropriation of such property. If the claimant and the pawnbroker do not resolve the matter within 10 days after the pawnbroker’s receipt of the notice, the claimant may petition the court to order the return of the property, naming the pawnbroker as a defendant, and must serve the pawnbroker with a copy of the petition. The pawnbroker shall hold the property described in the petition until the right to possession is resolved by the parties or by a court of competent jurisdiction. The court shall waive any filing fee for the petition to recover the property, and the sheriff shall waive the service fees.

(b) If, after notice and a hearing, the court finds that the property was misappropriated and orders the return of the property to the claimant:
1. The claimant may recover from the pawnbroker the cost of the action, including the claimant’s reasonable attorney’s fees; and

2. If the conveying customer is convicted of theft, a violation of this section, or dealing in stolen property, the court shall order the conveying customer to repay the pawnbroker the full amount the conveying customer received from the pawnbroker for the property, plus all applicable pawn service charges. As used in this paragraph, the term “convicted of” includes a plea of nolo contendere to the charges or any agreement in which adjudication is withheld; and

3. The conveying customer shall be responsible to pay all attorney’s fees and taxable costs incurred by the pawnbroker in defending a replevin action or any other civil matter wherein it is found that the conveying customer was in violation of this paragraph.

re: your solen clubs
 

I'm sure there is far more to this story. Far as I know, if a pawn shop buys anything that later turns out to be stolen the pawn shop needs to give the property back to the person it was stolen from and the pawn shop looses whatever they paid for it. If, the pawn shop told you you needed to pay them whatever they paid for the clubs you should have called the police.