This past summer, there was a period of about two weeks where a group of five to six juveniles from the town of Farmville stole and played with golf carts owned by Aramark.
Bob Beach, chief of Longwood University Police Department, described the individuals as male, not connected to Longwood University in any way and “under teenage.”
Beach confirmed that one golf cart was stolen and that there is a belief that one or more keys to the golf carts may also have been stolen.
The group of individuals came onto campus around 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. After activating the golf carts, the individuals would drive around campus or play bumper cars with them.
Grant Avent, director of Longwood Dining Services stated that the theft is believed to have occurred between 9 p.m. on Aug. 3 and 9 a.m. Aug. 5.
Beach stated that two individuals were apprehended, while others within the group “still were trying to manipulate the process [afterwards].”
Avent stated that golf carts are used for catering, concessions and picnics.
The use of them allows for transportation of food, equipment and supplies to locations outside of Dorrill Dining Hall.
With the theft of one golf cart, Avent said, “The loss of the golf cart makes our job more difficult.”
The stolen golf cart was one out of the only two functional golf carts that Aramark owned. Currently, there are moves to repair one golf cart for use. There are no immediate plans to replace the lost golf cart.
The theft of a golf cart labled as a motor vehicle theft, a felony that could go up to a year in the penitentiary with thousands of dollars in fines.
Avent judged the price of the stolen golf cart by stating that “the last golf cart we purchased was $8,000.”
Beach said that while one golf cart was stolen, “we’ve secured them now so they’re not as vulnerable to being damaged or stolen or manipulated.”
Avent further commented that they have begun to lock up the golf carts with a chain lock.
Beach described the incident as “nothing out of the ordinary.” He further stated that similar incidents do not happen often, but do occur once or twice a year.
Avent, who has worked for Longwood Dining Services for the past eight years, described the theft as a new occurrence.
Faculty and staff of Longwood University were later notified
and trained on how to better secure the keys and golf carts to avoid further incidents.
Beach suggested to the faculty, staff and student body to be aware of their surroundings and to be more protective of one’s belongings.
Beach said, “The real issue is that this is just symptomatic of a large university sitting inside a community where ... people get to come and go from campus as often as they’d like.”
He further described the incident as a “wake-up call.”
Beach noted that while Longwood University’s crime index statistics are below average with the national and state average, that one of the elevated areas of crime within the campus is stolen property, or larceny.
"There is a personal responsibility that every student has to manage and take care of their own stuff, so help us with that because the gold car issue is just an example that there are those in the community- although not a majority- there are those in the community that are looking for what I call crimes of opportunity," Beach said.
Beach suggested that if any students, faculty or staff see someone driving a golf cart after 8 or 9 p.m., that they call the police, stating that almost all faculty and staff will be off campus and not operating any golf carts by then.
The Longwood Police Department provides a Lost and Found service. Any valuable possession that is collected is held for 30 to 35 days.
If the item is not claimed within that time, the item is turned over to material supply and ends up in the warehouse to eventually be sold in an auction.
The phone number for the Longwood Police Department is (434) 395-2091.
