Stolen Golf Gear Leads to Arrests

Ventura County – Camarillo Police and Ventura County Sheriffs Detectives have recently been on the lookout for golf equipment thieves who have been plying their trade over the past several weeks at some of the area’s public links courses, working from witness descriptions of suspects and possible getaway cars.

Michael Shumway

Those suspects were described as white males with dark hair, and their vehicle was described by separate witnesses as an older model Ford Ranger or Mazda pickup truck.

Richard Holland

When a Camarillo Springs golfer who had been the victim of the thieves went shopping for a replacement set of clubs on Ventura County Craigslist, he was surprised to see his own gear offered for sale.  Suspecting that the posting of clubs for sale might lead him to the thief who stole his gear, the victim made arrangements to meet the “seller” at an Oxnard area shopping center parking lot and then promptly contacted Ventura County Sheriff’s detectives to inform them of the scheduled meeting.

According to VCSD spokesman Sr. Deputy John McGrath, “headquarters responded” and patrol area deputies discovered a vehicle matching that described by prior witnesses waiting in the Best Buy parking lot.  “Contact was made,” McGrath reported, and Richard Holland of Ventura, 28, and Michael Shumway of Ojai, 29, were detained and questioned at the scene.  During the parking lot investigation, Shumway and Holland were found to be in possession of the stolen clubs listed for sale on Craigslist.  Both men were arrested and charged with receiving and being in possession of stolen property and booked into Ventura County Jail.

Pursuant to their arrests, Camarillo detectives obtained and served a search warrant for the Ventura mobile home residence in which both suspects had been living.  At that location, “golf bags and golf supplies” from thefts reported at Oxnard’s River Ridge Golf Course and Camarillo’s Sterling Hills Golf Course were discovered.  “Additional golf supplies were also located,” McGrath reported, leading detectives to ask anyone with additional information regarding other thefts at area golf courses to contact them at (805) 388-5119.

Read more:

M.VCSTAR: 2 Arrested in Golf Supply Thefts

KCLU: Two Men Arrested for Thefts at Ventura County Golf Courses

KeyT: Golf Bag Theft