Vandals Tear Up Golf Course, Wreck Carts

Vandals did more than $1,000 in damage and stole four golf carts when they broke into Painted Hills Golf Course last week.

At least two people, and as many as four, cut through the chain link fence surrounding a golf cart storage area at the course early Wednesday, sheriff’s detectives said.

Five carts were taken from the area. One was found damaged about 100 yards away. The other four were recovered Thursday in the woods nearby. They also had been wrecked.

The vandalism is at least the second incident at the golf course at 4403 S. Dishman-Mica Road during the last couple of months, said detective Steve Jones, who is working on the case.

Detectives are looking into a connection between the golf course vandalism and damage done to a radio transmitter near the golf course about three weeks ago. Damage to a radio transmitter owned by KSVY was estimated at $32,000. It knocked the radio station off the air.

A group of teenagers could be responsible for both crimes, Jones said. However, the detective added they don’t have any firm suspects.

“These certainly could be related,” he said.

The vandals cut a 20-by-6-foot section out of the chain-link fencing that surrounds the “bullpen” area at the golf course.

They apparently rammed the golf carts into each other and drove them into the woods, Jones said. The front-end on the cart found at the golf course was smashed. Damage done to the other four carts was not known.

Fingerprints were taken from fencing and the golf carts, Jones said.

The destruction done to the golf carts and at the golf course will easily top $1,000, Jones said.

When caught, the vandals face burglary and possible auto theft charges, Jones said.

“We’re looking at felonies all the way around,” the detective said.

, DataTimes