Remind me not to mess with any drag racing fans!!
Speedway thief nabbed at Gainesville race, police say
By ANDREW GANT
STAFF WRITER, Daytona Beach News-Journal
March 10, 2012 8:44 AM
A Georgia man caught sneaking into an RV at the Gatornationals in Gainesville is the same one who burglarized race trailers during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach police said today.
Local police charged Steven Garry Sanders, a 51-year-old Macon, Ga., man, after victims in Gainesville caught him in the act -- and punished him for it.
"He was subdued in the pits by some of the fans and spectators, and had to be taken to the hospital and treated before he could get out to the jail," Alachua County sheriff's spokesman Art Forgey told The Gainesville Sun. "Somebody at the track told us that they have had this problem before at the events, of people going into motorhomes and taking stuff. I think we are probably going to find out that (Sanders) is not from the area, and that this may be how me makes his living."
Sanders had his victims' wallet, credit cards, ID and cash in his pocket when arrested, according to the report. And Daytona investigators say he's the same man who stole a collection of wallets from Speedway trailers during the races in 2010.
The victim this year was Lance Willsey, who raced in the Rolex 24. On Jan. 27, Willsey left his trailer closed, but not locked, and moved to the pit area. When he came back, he found his wallet (and the $800 in it) was gone.
After Willsey reported his credit cards stolen, police soon found they were used at Publix, Dillards and Walmart, where surveillance video showed Sanders buying gift cards, bottled water and an 18-pack of beer.
Today, a local judge signed a warrant to have Sanders brought back to Volusia to face charges in Willsey's case, as well as a similar 2010 theft from another trailer at the Speedway.
In that case, the race team of Daniel Harding, M. Allen Milarcik and John Storrie left their trailer unlocked for about an hour, then came back to find things missing.
Harding told police he was changing from his racing outfit into street clothes when he noticed his wallet and $350 weren't in his jeans. Milarcik was missing his wallet and $900. Storrie lost $100 from a computer bag.
Although police got surveillance video of the thief using one of the stolen cards at Target on International Speedway Boulevard, they couldn't find him. He also bought a meal at the nearby Chik-fil-A.
In May of 2010, police wrote: "Due to the fact that the suspect in this case hasn't been identified and no new information and/or evidence is likely until the next race season, this case is pending."
Sanders was charged with grand theft, burglary and fraudulent use of a credit card in this year's case, and grand theft and burglary in the 2010 case. Police spokesman Jimmie Flynt said today that more charges are expected.
In Gainesville, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office charged Sanders with burglary, grand theft and providing false information to law enforcement. Forgey said a race fan tape-recorded Sanders as he stole from a nearby RV, and still had his camera running when Sanders came into his vehicle next.
Suspected Thief Sanders
Surveillance video from Target in Daytona Beach, showing the image of a man suspected of using stolen credit cards belonging to race crews at Daytona International Speedway.
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"Any Day is Good for Stock Car Racing"
updated by @dave-fulton: 12/05/16 04:02:07PM
