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Grand Theft Golf Cart: Church Camp Site Hit

Tribune photo by JOHN CEBALLOS

Louis O'Steen points to the area next to his home where the golf cart he and his wife, Judy, share was stolen June 28. O'Steen filed a sheriff's report and has been driving through Wimauma looking for the missing cart.

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By JOHN CEBALLOS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 15, 2008

Updated:

WIMAUMA - It had been more than four months since Judy O'Steen had been able to drive her golf cart.

A double knee replacement in February had rendered her incapable of navigating the vehicle, which she has used for the past four years to help deliver food and other supplies for people in the Wimauma Church of God campground and surrounding areas.

"We have an automobile and a golf cart, and I use both, but Judy would only use the golf cart," said Louis O'Steen of his wife of 33 years, who is visiting family in Alabama.

By mid-June, she was again physically able to drive. Less than a week later, and the day after delivering directories on behalf of the church, their golf cart was stolen.

Unfortunately, the O'Steens were not alone.

Between late May and late June, three golf carts were stolen from the campground.

The first belonged to Joyce and Richard Summers. That was followed by the June 5 theft of a golf cart belonging to Gerry Nix, a part-time resident at the campground who splits his time between South Carolina and Sun City Center.

The latest incident took place June 28 when the O'Steens' cart was taken from their home's yard.

"We've been living here for about 10 years, and I remember a few gas grills being stolen, but I don't remember any golf carts being taken at all," O'Steen said. "We had it chained up, and the thieves used bolt cutters to get through."

Despite the recent surge, authorities don't necessarily see a pattern forming.

"I wouldn't say there's a rash of thefts," said Sgt. Dorothy Flair of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Flair works in the property crimes division for District IV.

"A lot of the carts are taken by juveniles who either steal them and ride around in them for a while or just decide to wreck and abandon them."

For his part, O'Steen hasn't given up finding his family's cart.

"The deputies told me, more than likely, our cart was taken out of the state or someplace far away where it wouldn't be recognized," he said. "I've been driving around Wimauma trying to look for it with no luck so far."

Another one of the victims is also taking an active approach.

"I've been offering, and I'm still offering, a $500 reward for any information that leads to an arrest," Nix said. "I feel bad for those other people who live on the campground year-round because they really depend on their carts."

If you have information, Nix can be reached at (864) 578-7084.

Reporter John Ceballos can be reached at (813) 865-1555 or jceballos@tampatrib.com.

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