Update: Golf Gear Theft Suspect Returns Stolen Items, Writes Letters of Apology

Written by Kris Janisch and originally published on Woodbury Patch.

The Hudson, Wis., man who turned over stolen items from Golf Galaxy to Woodbury police says it was an embarrassing situation and it appears the charges will be dropped if he remains law abiding for a year.

Donald Lee Voorhees, 66, was suspected of stealing golf balls from the Woodbury shop and gave them back, along with other stolen items, during a police interview in February.

“It’s true what happened,” he said. “I did something that was totally wrong.”

Voorhees told Patch he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and his daughter had died in a car crash. He said he wrote letters of apology to Woodbury police and Golf Galaxy.

“They got everything back,” he said.

Voorhees said he wasn’t making excuses for the thefts, but he had never previously been in trouble with the law and hopes the incident helps him move forward in a positive direction.

“It was almost like I wanted it to happen, to get some help with my issues,” he said.

He said he’s in counseling and working with veterans groups, and is looking forward to a new chapter in his life.

Original Post

A Wisconsin man suspected of stealing balls from Golf Galaxy showed up at the Woodbury Public Safety Department with other pilfered merchandise and admitted he put clubs down his pants during thefts.

That’s according to the criminal complaint against Donald Lee Voorhees, 66, of Hudson, who faces a felony theft charge.

In February, police were dispatched to Golf Galaxy on a report of a theft; workers told officers a member of the store’s “Advantage Club” had taken three boxes of golf balls valued at $143 total.

Voorhees was identified in surveillance footage, according to the complaint.

He agreed to meet and discuss the allegations at the police department, where he admitted he stole numerous items from the shop and brought them with him in his car, the complaint says. In addition to golf balls, he had three hats, a pair of golf shoes and three new clubs.

“This is probably more than you thought, isn’t it,” he told police, according to the complaint.

Voorhees also said other golf clubs he stole were given to friends as gifts, and he agreed to get them back, the complaint says. He told police he would put golf clubs down his pants and walk out of the store.

The total value of the stolen merchandise was $1,467.

If convicted, Voorhees faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.