14 DAY TRIAL // Addictions can be difficult to overcome and can entice good people to make poor decisions. A Washington man, who appears to be addicted to golf, was arrested for allegedly stealing $9,200 (€6,740) worth of clubs and other merchandise from the pro shop at Gold Mountain Golf Course last month.
The 26-year-old suspect, from Kirkland, King County, is accused of taking more than 50 clubs from the pro shop and trying to sell some of the stolen gear online.
According to the Bremerton Police Department, the man threw a patio chair through the shop's window sometime overnight between May 25 and May 26 and made off with dozens of clubs and other golf equipment, Komo News reports.
Bremerton detectives tracked the suspect down after he posted some of the stolen items on eBay and arrested him in Kirkland on Wednesday. Security camera footage and other information also led to his arrest. When officers searched his apartment, they reportedly found golf paraphernalia, photos of himself playing golf and a hat reading “Born to Golf, Forced to Work” and some of the stolen equipment.
Police also seized new golf equipment found at the apartment that was not taken in the burglary at Gold Mountain, and are trying to determine if the items were taken in other burglaries.
Police revealed that the suspect, whose name has not been released, had no criminal history, but appeared to be addicted to golf, because he probably only stole the gear to feed his affinity for the game. He has reportedly played golf at Gold Mountain at least eight times in the past year.
Police Chief Steve Strachan said in a press release that robberies are often the result of addictions, but this is the first case of this kind he has encountered in his entire career.
“Burglaries are often the result of addictions -- drugs, alcohol or gambling,” he said. “I think this is the first one we have seen that looks like a golf addiction.”
When one thinks of addictions, usually gambling or drug use is what comes to mind, but it seems that “golf addiction” is also a real thing and can be a burden on individual and family life, at least for this man. And when the addiction becomes too acute, it can even spiral into a crime spree.
The suspect was booked into Kitsap County Jail for investigation of trafficking in stolen property and burglary, and his bail was set at $200,000 (€146,560).