Vandals cause heavy damage at country club

Posted: 07/06/12 at 11:05 am EDT      Last Updated: 07/06/12 at 4:17 pm EDT

OXFORD, Mass. (WHDH) -- Someone stole a golf cart, set it on fire and left a trail of damage on a green at a central Massachusetts country club.

Police said at least two people were behind stealing a golf cart at Pine Ridge Country Club in Oxford early Thursday morning.

“The physically picked it up and over the fence and they made their way with the key,” said Ken Duquette, the general manager at the country club.

Duquette said the vandals took the cart to the third green, tipped it on its side, emptied the gasoline out and ignited it.

“At that point it turned into an inferno and it melted itself down to basically nothing but the rubble of the aluminum and the metal that was left over. There was not even a tire left,” said Duquette.

The cost of the cart was about $5,000, but the damage to the green is estimated to be about $20,000.

“I think it was an act of vengeance,” said Duquette.

Police found two sets of footprints near the fire, but have not named any suspects.

“We don’t’ know at this point what it is. It could just be some neighborhood kids fooling around or it could be somebody who has a vendetta against the club. We don’t know,” said Sgt. Tony Saad of the Oxford Police Department.

Golfers are waiting for justice.

“If they’re over 18, they should go to jail. If they’re under 18 they should be sent to their room for the next three months,” said Steven Lubarsky, a golfer.

The damage to the green should be repaired by Monday.

The country club is offering a reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest of the vandals.

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