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The Villages
Thursday, May 2, 2024

Police track down suspect in theft of Villager’s golf cart

A detective has been able to track down a man suspected of stealing a Villager’s golf cart this past month.

Lance Hanson
Lance Hanson

Villager Gio Milano had been out on his usual 6:30 a.m. coffee and mail run this past month when he stepped out of the Circle K at 3 La Grande Blvd. and saw a man driving away in his Yahama golf cart. Milano shouted at him to come back, but instead the man showed Milano his middle finger and kept driving. You can read more about the story HERE

Lady Lake police spotted the golf cart a few days later, ditched in the carport of rental property on the Historic Side of The Villages.

A detective tracked down the suspect and obtained a warrant for his arrest. The suspect has been identified as 32-year-old Lance Garrett Hanson of Fruitland Park. He was transferred Tuesday to the Lake County Jail from the Sumter County Detention Center. He had been picked up last week in Sumter County on a probation violation.

Gio Milano with his 2013 Yamaha golf cart.
Gio Milano was thrilled to be reunited with his Yamaha golf cart.

Hanson has also been charged in connection with a March 4 theft at Target at Rolling Acres Plaza. He fled on foot in that incident. You can read more about that case HERE

Hanson is already on probation in a previous drug case. His probation is scheduled to run through Nov. 30, 2018.

He is facing charges of grand theft, retail theft and resisting a merchant. He is being held without bond at the Lake County Jail.

The Villager whose golf cart was stolen was thrilled at the news of the arrest of a suspect.

“I am glad that there is going to be some justice done on this. I hope it shows other people that might try this that it can’t happen here in The Villages,” said Milano “I really appreciate the Lady Lake Police Department and all their hard work.”

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