Several articles have appeared in The Pilot involving the theft of golf equipment and other items taken from Pinehurst area residences. As columnist Paul Harvey was fond of saying, “And now, the rest of the story.”

On Sunday morning we noticed that the door to the room in which we keep our golf cart and golf equipment was standing open. Examination disclosed much was missing: two sets of golf clubs, five pairs of golf shoes, a catalytic cart heater, five putters and about a dozen assorted clubs.

We phoned the police, and within minutes at least four officers were on the scene surveying the situation for the next couple of hours.

One of them noticed a familiar looking footprint in the mud. Rain had softened the ground in our driveway. A mold of the footprint was taken along with a long list of all the items stolen. The police left.

By 7 o’clock that very night, the culprits were in custody. To be broken into and stolen from, on a Sunday morning, is to be violated. To have a crime solved so quickly and completely is most gratifying.

Tuesday at 5 p.m., we received a phone call from the Police Department, asking us to come identify our equipment. Sure enough, there much of it was, neatly separated and laid out apart from the other stolen items.

The men and women of the Pinehurst Police Department all deserve great praise for their dedication, determination and drive, in such a rapid solution to an annoying crime. Two officers, in particular, are deserving of strong commendation: Officer J.A. Whitlock and Sgt. Tina Sheppard.

We feel so very fortunate to live in Moore County and Pinehurst. We feel equally fortunate to be protected by the Pinehurst Police Department.

Doug and Nancy Smith

Pinehurst