Burglars teeing off on golf courses

Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation officials are asking for the public's help following a rash of burglaries at golf courses throughout the county.

There have been at least seven break-ins during the past month. County officials believe the same person is responsible for at least five of the burglaries:

Aug. 2 — Old Mill Golf Course, 6080 S. Wasatch Blvd.

Aug. 29 — Mountain View Golf Course, 2400 W. 8660 South.

Aug. 30 — South Mountain Golf Course, 1247 Mike Weir Drive.

Sept. 4 — Meadowbrook Golf Course, 4197 S. 1300 West.

Sept. 6 — Mick Riley Golf Course, 421 E. Vine St.

Surveillance video from those burglaries showed the same person in each break-in, said Tim Fernau, Salt Lake County golf director. In each incident, the man wore jeans, a green sweater and a black mask.

The man was armed with a crowbar and a sledgehammer, he said. In a typical burglary, the man knocked out a window of the golf-shop door, used the crowbar to pry the door open and then used the sledgehammer on the office safe, Fernau said. Sometimes the sledgehammer was used to open office doors within the pro shop, he said.

Officials noted one possible clue about the identity of the burglar: The man used a very good golf swing with the sledgehammer, Fernau said.

In surveillance tapes of the last two burglaries, the man appeared to know exactly where he was going, walking straight to the safe, Fernau said.

Nevertheless, the burglar left the pro shops empty-handed. He damaged the safes but was not able to get any of them open, Fernau said. He also left without taking any merchandise on the shelves, he said.

In the Meadowbrook burglary on Friday, the man parked his car about a mile from the clubhouse, walked to the maintenance building where he stole a golf cart, drove it to the golf shop and made another attempt at the safe, Fernau said.

"All he's doing is ruining the safe. He causes about $2,000 to $3,000 damage at each facility. But he does not get anything," he said.

In contrast, Meadowbrook was burglarized again Monday night, but this time, surveillance video showed it was a different group of four juveniles, Fernau said.

"They broke into the restaurant side, then grabbed candy bars and beer and food and drink items," he said.

The group also took golf shirts, balls and gloves on their way out.

Because each of the golf courses is located in a different police jurisdiction, Fernau said, the Salt Lake County Sheriff's office is coordinating the investigation.

Anyone with information may call the sheriff's office or police at 801-743-7000 or 801-840-4026.

e-mail: preavy@desnews.com