Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Vandals took expensive joy rides on Halloween

Vandals apparently caught up in the Halloween spirit took Saturday night “joyrides” with eight golf carts from The Members Club at Woodcreek and WildeWood, driving four carts into swimming pools in the WildeWood neighborhood and causing an estimated $50,000 in damages, the club president said Wednesday.

Several golf carts were driven across the greens on holes Nos. 5-8 at the WildeWood course, and another was left in a sand bunker with a broken axle, but damage to the course was minimal, according to Members Club president Bill McDougall.. The vandals also broke into the WildeWood snack bar, he said.

“The carts were all banged up,” he said. “We don’t know the exact cost yet. We’re still sorting that out.”

No arrests had been made as of Wednesday morning, but McDougall said he expected an announcement later in the day.

“We know who did it, and the (police) will as of 3 p.m.,” he said. McDougall did not identify the vandals but said they were “kids who went overboard.”

The club offered a $1,000 reward for information on the vandalism, “and we can probably award it today,” he said.

Three carts were left in the WildeWood pool and had to be removed Wednesday by crane. Another was driven into a private residence pool, damaging the pool liner, McDougall said.

“We have to add the cost(s) of that, too,” he said.

McDougall said Richland County Sheriff’s Department investigators and the club’s private security firm, Wade Security, were involved in the investigation.

“The parents (of the alleged vandals) are being cooperative.,” he said. “We’re dealing with it.”

Get The State newspaper delivered to your home. Click here to subscribe.