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Golf Club Thieves Identified As Husband-Wife Team

Posted: 5:22 pm EDT June 18, 2009Updated: 5:36 pm EDT June 18, 2009

A husband and wife team is stealing thousands of dollars in golf clubs and golf supplies in Volusia County and no one's been able to stop them. The thieves have struck at least seven places.

New surveillance video detectives released Thursday reveals how they're able to pull off the thefts in the middle of the day. The jackets and long pants they were wearing in 90-degree heat were key.

It was simple as picking a club, making sure no one was watching, then they simply slip one end down their pants the other end under their jacket and walk out of the store.

The Hooper family was caught on security cameras at the Daytona Beach Golf Club. Nicole was in the back distracting employees by looking at clothes. Husband Philip, and a man believed to be Philip's relative Derek, looked at golf clubs. Video shows Philip slide a $500 driver down his pants.

"They're after the more high-line drivers and putters that run three to five, six hundred dollars. Taylor Made, Scotty Cameron, stuff like that," said Chris Holt, Daytona Beach Golf Club.

Investigators believe the Hoopers are stealing golf clubs and golf balls all over Volusia County. Police said they pawn sporting goods and may be using the money for drugs. They're stealing so much, in some cases police know they're selling it, but don't know where it was stolen from.

"As far as I know, it's just retail thefts right now. I haven't had any reports of personal thefts right now. That may change after you air this," said Scott Frantz, Daytona Beach Police Department.

It was only because of a crime where the Hoopers put MP3 players in their pants at a Target store that police even know who they are. An alert security guard focused an outdoor camera squarely on Nicole's license plate when she left. They even drove around the lot for awhile, helping police easily identify the family. Now they need to find them.

High-dollar clubs have serial numbers on them, so they're hard to re-sell, but easy to pawn. Detectives said the crime spree may extend into Seminole County, as well.

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