A 19-year-old was arrested Sunday after allegedly stealing golf carts and causing thousands of dollars in damage at the Visalia Country Club, police said.

Visalia Police Department officers were dispatched just after 7:30 a.m. to the 600 block of North Ranch Street following reports of theft and vandalism.

Investigators learned that around 4 a.m., three males jumped the Country Club’s fence and took joyrides in two of its golf carts, along with a third cart owned by a private individual.

The suspects caused about $1,000 in damage to one of the Country Club’s carts and roughly $15,000 in damage to the privately owned cart.

A golf bag containing clubs, equipment, jewelry, and cash valued at $17,550 was also stolen from the private cart.

The Visalia PD Property Crimes Unit led the investigation, which led detectives to a vehicle on a property in the 17000 block of Avenue 288 in Exeter.

After obtaining a search warrant, officers contacted the vehicle’s owner, identified as Aidan Mendez, 19, and recovered about $16,600 worth of the stolen items.

Mendez was booked into the Tulare County Adult Pre-Trial Facility on charges including vehicle theft, grand theft, vandalism, and conspiracy.

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