Golf legend’s stolen $14,000 cart winds up on Craigslist

Update 3/1:

Tim Venturi tells Katie Widner he picked up his stolen cart in Apple Valley today. “Cost me $750 at the impound lot, but it’s back.” Venturi included a photo showing him reunited with his late father Ken Veturi’s golf cart.

Original Story:

Golf carts are a popular way to get around in the Coachella Valley and they can be a big financial investment as well, costing anywhere from $3,500 to $18,000.

Tim Venturi, the son of U.S. Open golf champion Ken Venturi, knows a lot about the subject.

“I was born and raised in a golf family and raised all around golf,” he told KESQ News Channel 3’s and CBS Local 2’s Katie Widner.

Venturi has worked in the industry for more than 14 years and currently works in sales at Cart Mart Inc. in Rancho Mirage. He also, recently, had his $14,000 custom cart stolen right out of his driveway inside the gated community of Indian Wells Country Club.

“I called police and filed a report, of course. They came over immediately,” he said.

The missing cart was discovered for sale on Craigslist a few days later, but by the time police caught up with the lister, the cart had been moved to another area. Venturi said the cart went from the La Quinta Cove neighborhood, where it was photographed for the Craigslist ad, to Victorville, and then to Bakersfield.

“The point of the matter is, this car went on Craigslist two different times, almost three different times. In a matter of seven days, had three different owners,” Venturi said.

Venturi received a call Tuesday that his cart had been recovered in Bakersfield. He believes that had he not had updated pictures and the serial number for his golf cart, he may never have seen it again.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office could not comment directly on the case because it is an active investigation, but Deputy Armando Munoz said that golf cart owners should take precautions and use a steering wheel lock or even chang the ignition key.

“A lot of them are general, so anyone could have a key and use it,” Munoz explained.

Munoz also said Craiglist buyers should be aware. Depending on the situation, buying stolen goods on Craiglist could leave you without the product or the cash you paid for it.

“We suggest making sure everything is legit. Ask for a proof of purchase from the seller,” said Munoz.