Three Charged in String of Golf Cart Thefts

Detectives have made three arrests in that have plagued southeastern Hillsborough County in the past month.

Jason Beeche, 35, and Michael Griffiths, 40, both of Ruskin, stole at least 16 golf carts from mobile home parks and committed several shed burglaries in Ruskin, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies reported seeing the two men driving a golf cart on 19th Avenue Northwest and U.S. 41 North on Thursday, Jan. 26. A traffic stop revealed the golf cart was stolen earlier that morning, and further investigation linked them back to 15 other thefts.

Detectives said they also learned that Nicole Kramer, 40, purchased and/or
traded drugs for at least three of the stolen golf carts. Tools that were stolen from sheds in Ruskin were also found in Kramer's hotel room at the Gibtown Inn on U.S. 41, according to the sheriff's office.

Kramer is charged with two counts of dealing in stolen property, possession of cocaine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence and not having a valid driver's license.

Beech faces 10 counts of grand theft; Griffiths faces one grand theft charge.

Eight golf carts valued at $5,000 have been recovered, according to a media release. Detectives are continuing the investigation with other charges pending as they follow leads on the unrecovered golf carts.

Earlier this week, the sheriff's office said a total of 23 golf carts had gone missing in unincorporated Hillsborough County since December, mostly in the southeastern part of the county. for information leading to an arrest.