SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — It's a crime that went after one of the Valley's most beloved sports.
Dozens of high-end golf clubs stolen in the middle of the day at several golf shops in Scottsdale and other parts of the Valley.
All adding up to be worth $43,000 within a four months according to newly obtained court documents.
Scottsdale Police arrested Walter Dougoud who recently pleaded guilty to the retail theft in July.
One of the shops that was targeted is Hornacek's Golf in north Scottsdale. Co-owner Michael Savoie said it happened in March. Surveillance video from that time shows Dougoud walk in, walk toward the driver section, grab a handful of drivers and leave.
"This guy got seven in his hands and did it in less than 20 seconds," Savoie said.
Each driver was worth about $600. In total Savoie said it was all worth $3,600.
Arrest documents claim Dougoud did the same thing at several other golf stores across the Valley, stealing several golf clubs at a time.
Dougoud allegedly admitted to investigators that he stole from stores at least 15 times and identified himself in 11 incidents. The documents also claim Dougoud would sell the golf clubs for less than half of the retail price.
In some thefts, court documents claim Dougoud told police he wasn't working alone and that his wife, her daughter, and a man he identified as "Porkchop" also assisted in the thefts.
The 52-year-old accepted a plea agreement from prosecutors and will be sentenced in August.
“We're glad that there is getting some resolve and some awareness that, you know, this, this is going on, and it's not just the golf industry," Savoie said.
The incident his shop went through made Savoie want to make changes to help his customers and employees feel safer at the shop. He installed additional security cameras, increased staffing and changed the store's product layout.
"We have thwarted, probably about, five or six [theft] attempts since then," he said.
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