Thieves targetted two golf clubs on the same night, raiding buggies and ripping out their batteries.
At Braintree Golf Club in Stisted eight buggies were ripped open and batteries worth at least £1,000 were removed.
On the same night several more were hit at Rivenhall Oaks Golf Club in Forest Road in Witham, resulting in the theft of batteries worth £1,300.
Braintree Golf Club chairman Mike Reeve said: “They stole the batteries from a number of machines, put them in another machine and drove it down to the practice ground entrance where we suspect they had a car waiting.
“That buggy was then vandalised by them kicking in its window. It was wanton destruction.”
Mr Reeve said most of the buggies were owned by members, leaving many of them unable to play again until their vehicles are repaired or replaced.
Braintree police Sergeant Tom Bastendorff said: “We are linking both incidents. We will be informing other clubs in the area to make them aware.”
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