A golf cart theft ring has been broken up after suspects were caught on video surveillance at the Waterfront Inn at Lake Sumter Landing.
A golf cart was stolen this past Saturday and surveillance led law enforcement to a home in Tavares. There the golf cart stolen from the Waterfront Inn was discovered and at a nearby home there was the discovery of a golf cart stolen in October from World of Beer at Brownwood Paddock Square.
The Tavares Police Department assisted the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office in obtaining and serving a search warrant for the property located at 107 E. Ruby Street which also yielded a stolen enclosed trailer which had been used to transport the most recent golf cart taken from the Waterfront Inn. That enclosed trailer had been stolen during the previous weekend in Lady Lake. Also found during the search warrant was the drill bit believed to be used to bypass the golf cart ignitions during the previous thefts.
Robey Kyle Jones, 38, of Tavares has been arrested on a charge of grand theft. He was booked at the Lake County Jail and released after posting $4,000 bond.
An arrest warrant has been issued for 23-year-old Morgan Troy Durrance of Eustis. He is also facing a charge of grand theft.
Villages-News.com first reported the thefts on Nov. 4 and reported the subsequent theft of a golf cart at World of Beer in Spanish Springs Town Square.
This is still an active investigation and other jurisdictions are involved. The Tavares Police Department has jurisdiction of the continuing chop shop investigation and the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is currently coordinating with Tavares Police to pursue the location of other stolen carts or components. The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office is in communication with all affected law enforcement agencies and will be coordinating investigatory efforts.
The sheriff’s office is asking that if you have any information regarding these series of thefts, please contact Detective Justin Street at (352) 569-1600. Additionally, if someone knows the location of Morgan Troy Durrance, contact the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office, your local law enforcement agency or Crimeline.
