Man arrested after alleged vehicle theft spree

UPDATE 2:41 pm: Orloff has been charged with Tampering of a Motor Vehicle.

A 26-year-old Columbia man is facing multiple theft charges after police said he committed a string of vehicle-related crimes.

Columbia police said it started just before 2 p.m. Thursday in the 200 block of Divot Drive when a victim reported the theft of a $100 bicycle.

The victim told police that the bike was taken by Francois Orloff and that he fled toward the gold course at 2210 Country Club Drive.

There, police said Orloff stole a golf cart, owned by the Columbia Country Club, and drove off with another victim’s items including an iPhone, wallet and golf clubs.

Police said Orloff drove away from the course and eventually crashed the cart at the intersection of Country Club Drive and Fairway Drive.

The first victim, who had been following Orloff, told police that the 26-year-old suspect abandoned the golf cart and took off running northbound before stealing another bicycle from a Charles Street house.

Officers found and arrested Orloff at Loop 70 Veterinary Clinic on suspicion of two counts of felony stealing and two counts of misdemeanor stealing.