THE VILLAGES, FL (352Today.com) – You’d think someone who stole a golf cart would drive it away as fast as possible. Investigators say that wasn’t always the case in The Villages. After hot-wiring a cart, the suspects would rekey it, leave it parked overnight at another local business, and list it for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Only later would they return to pick it up.
That pattern is part of a coordinated golf cart theft operation in the Lake Sumter Landing area that the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office says involved multiple people and multiple vehicles between Oct. 24 and Nov. 10.
Detectives have now identified a third suspect and obtained an arrest warrant for Jeffery Vincent Woods, 47, whose last known address was in Marion County. Officials believe he may have left the area and are asking for the public’s help locating him. The warrant follows the Nov. 10 arrests of Steven Santiago, charged with four counts of grand theft, and David Timothy Andrews, charged with three counts of grand theft, violation of probation, and possession of narcotics.
During the investigation and arrests, deputies recovered three stolen golf carts – two reported to the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office and one reported to the Lady Lake Police Department. Detectives say they are still working to determine the full scope of the operation and whether additional carts or victims are involved.
Sheriff Patrick “Pat” Breeden has asked anyone who bought a golf cart or other property from the individuals involved, or who communicated with them on Facebook Marketplace, to contact investigators. Tips can be directed to the Sheriff’s Office at 352-569-1600 or anonymously to CrimeLine at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).
