As a result of an ongoing investigation into recent golf cart thefts, the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station recently recovered over $36,000 in stolen golf carts and arrested four suspects.
“Following an extensive investigation, over $36,000 in recovered golf carts were located and returned to their rightful owners,” Deputy Sgt. Chris Willison of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department wrote in a May 23 news release.
In connection with the investigation, the department arrested four suspects on several theft-related charges. All residents of Thousand Palms, they are identified as: Daniel Vital, 35; Glen Usher, 42; Steve Short, 41; and Juan Sosa, 51, according to the release. The four suspects were booked at the John Benoit Detention Center.
“In addition to the recovery of these golf carts, Palm Desert Station personnel, along with the Riverside Auto-Theft Interdiction Detail Team (RAID), conducted an extensive investigation which incorporated numerous man hours and included the disassembling of a golf cart for evidentiary purposes,” Sgt. Willison said in the release.
In a May 20th article, NBC Palm Springs discussed the rise of golf cart theft in Coachella Valley, describing it an issue spanning the entire region. This particular article discussed thefts that had occurred in Palm Desert that week. NBC Palm Springs also said that six carts had been stolen from the community within two weeks—three of which disappeared on the same night.
In response to the increase in thefts, the Palm Desert Sheriff’s Station shared tips on how to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim. Tips include concealing valuables from plain view, not leaving keys the ignition of an idle vehicle and finding a safe place to secure items. Another powerful tool in detracting crooks is serializing valuables, a step that assists law enforcement in their recovery.
