Published: 08/02/2007
Police catch frogmen with golf-ball swag By Ethan Forman Staff writer
MIDDLETON - Two men in scuba suits found themselves in the rough early yesterday morning as police nabbed them for diving for golf balls in the Middleton Golf Course water hazards.
Patrolmen David Arathuzik and Thomas McParland arrested Thomas Reardon, 60, of 240 Boston St., Middleton, and Vincent Albano, 49, of 315 Essex St., Salem, around 2:30 a.m. yesterday and charged them with larceny over $250 and trespassing at the golf course at 105 S. Main St.
Police said a resident of 11 Overbrook Road reported the suspicious activity and, when police caught up to the men, they had the golf balls in their possession. The pro shop was not broken into at the 18-hole, Par 3 course built in 1965.
"They came in under the cover of darkness," said Bill George, the golf course's president, "and they were apparently in scuba diving suits and they had been salvaging golf balls that had been in the pond, which is something we do: We usually pay to have the balls salvaged."
George said this is not the first time someone has tried to filch golf balls that wind up in the drink.
"I've been in this business for 35 years now, and every few years, now, maybe somebody thinks it's a good idea to make a quick buck," George said. "We have had incidents. Usually the neighbors very kindly tip us off because they see an unfamiliar car parked on a side street. That usually brings the police, and that is the end of it."
George said someone looking for a big score off salvaging golf balls may be disappointed.
"A large percentage of them are not resalable," George said. "In fact, golfers have a tendency to tee up what they call a 'water ball' when they are near a water hazard." In mint condition, salvaged balls sell for 50 cents to $1, George said.
The pair were arraigned in Salem District Court yesterday, according to the Essex County District Attorney's Office.
Both were issued a bail warning, which means if they get into trouble again before the case is resolved, they can be held for 60 days in jail.
The pair's short game may also suffer, as Judge Joseph Jennings also ordered them to stay away from the Route 114 golf course. Both are due back on Sept. 25 for a pretrial hearing.
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