Two teenagers from Nocatee, ages 15 and 16, were arrested over the weekend for allegedly stealing two golf carts in separate incidents, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
Golf Cart Stolen From Water Park
The first theft happened Saturday at the Splash Water Park parking lot while the owners were inside. The couple told police they had the key with them and that no one else had permission to use their red, six-seater electric golf cart.
Second Golf Cart Found in a Pond
Later that evening, another Nocatee resident reported that her golf cart had gone missing from her apartment complex parking lot. Luckily, she and her husband had installed a GPS tracker, which showed the cart parked nearby. However, when they searched the area, they couldn’t find it.
A friend later sent them a shocking photo—a golf cart halfway submerged in a pond near their home.
Deputies arrived at the scene and helped the owners pull the vehicle from the water. Unfortunately, the owner said the water had damaged its electrical system, making the $11,000 golf cart unusable.
Teens Caught Hiding Behind Cars
At around 2 a.m. the next morning, deputies responded to a report of suspicious activity at the Starling Assisted Living facility on Crosswater Parkway. When police arrived, they spotted two male teens hiding behind cars before running away. They were caught soon after.
A police report revealed that one of the teens had a video on his phone showing the other suspect driving the stolen cart into the pond. In the footage, the teen filming can be heard yelling in shock as the cart plunges into the water.
Since they are minors, The Citizen is not publishing their names.
Parents Urge Teens to Confess
The teens’ parents were called to the scene and urged them to be honest. One of them admitted to stealing the other missing cart from Splash Water Park with the same accomplice and told deputies where to find it.
Officers later located the second stolen golf cart near Dick’s Wings in Nocatee. The vehicle had been completely spray-painted, likely to hide the theft.
Both victims have decided to press charges against the teens.