Instant Justice

[Papa_Complex]

Man arrested at Gatornationals suspect in Daytona International Speedway thefts

By ANDREW GANT and CHRIS GRAHAM, Staff writers send an email to andrew.gant@news-jrnl.com

March 11, 2012 1:00 AM

Steven Garry Sanders

Steven Sanders

A Georgia man caught sneaking into an RV at the Gatornationals in Gainesville is the same one who burglarized race trailers at Daytona International Speedway and across the Southeast for several years, Daytona Beach police said.

Local police charged Steven Garry Sanders, a 51-year-old Macon, Ga., man, after victims in Gainesville caught him in the act Friday -- 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 motor homes 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 he makes his living."

Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said his agency was alerted yesterday by an off-duty officer at Gatornationals that Sanders was possibly making rounds at the Gainesville Raceway.

Chitwood said he was glad spectators were able to help nab the man, who is also suspected in thefts at racetracks in Atlanta and Sebring.

"That's the price you pay when you're going around committing crimes," Chitwood said.

Sanders had his victim's wallet, credit cards, ID and cash in his pocket when arrested, according to the report. Daytona investigators say he's the same man who stole a collection of wallets from Speedway trailers during races for the last three years and fraudulently purchased items at area big-box stores.

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.

Last year at the Speedway, a California man, Mikel Miller, reported his wallet stolen from his racing trailer. His wife also had several debit cards stolen, according to a police report. In the days following the theft, police say Sanders racked up more than $800 in credit-card purchases at several Central Florida stores, spending $55 at McDonald's in Deltona and $95 at an Orlando Nordstrom.

Saturday, 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 Chick-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.

Chitwood said authorities are still trying to determine how he managed to pull off the string of thefts, which are believed to have started at least seven years ago.

"He acted like he was on pit row," Chitwood said. "I don't know how he was getting in there."

Chitwood said Sanders likely will face more charges.

In Gainesville, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office charged Sanders with burglary, grand theft and providing false information to law enforcement.

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, Forgey said.

When Sanders arrives at the Volusia County Branch Jail, he will be held without bail.