A Peachtree City mother and son are part of a group responsible for a string of golf cart thefts and burglaries, police said.
Michelle McDougal, 39, and her son, Bobby McDougal, 17, are among four suspects charged with eight counts of golf cart theft and 72 counts of entering an auto, said Peachtree City police Maj. Mike Dupree. Items stolen from cars during the past several months included a handgun, several GPS units, laptops, purses, money, and other small electronic items.
Also charged are an unnamed juvenile and Malcolm McLachlan, 17.
The alleged burglary ring was busted when a Peachtree City resident called police at 3 a.m. on Oct. 23 and reported seeing a person later identified as Bobby McDougal in his vehicle. McDougal was located and had several stolen items in his possession, including a stolen handgun.
After obtaining search warrants, investigators found a "large number of items that had previously been reported stolen," police said. Additional stolen property was located in a wooded area near McLachlan’s home.
Police also recovered a number of items that have not been reported stolen, including iPods, video cameras and digital cameras. Those who have missing items should contact Peachtree City police.
At least 40 theft cases have been solved with the arrests, said Dupree.
"Anytime you get that many cases cleared, that’s a pretty good bust anywhere," said Dupree Thursday.
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