SEATTLE -- Working out can come at a price. If you don't lock up your belongings you could fall victim to thieves.
It doesn't matter if you're at an exclusive high-end gym or one at your work, thieves are out there looking for crimes of opportunity, said police.
"I just felt so invaded," said Erin Axton, a member of the Ballard Olympic Athletic Club.
Axton recently was a victim of a theft at the exclusive gym in Ballard.
The long-time member said for years she's hung up her coat on a rack inside the locker room. Axton thought it was safe and secure because to get into that locker room members must be buzzed in. And there's a surveillance camera outside of the door.
But, within a half hour of her repeating that practice, someone stole her keys and cell phone.
The crook then went to her car and stole everything inside, including her laptop, camera, expensive hand-bag, wallet with identification and charged her credit card.
"I am partly to blame but I have done this for years. You don't think someone is going to take your car keys and go walk around the block saying ‘oh it beeps, I'm going to go and take everything out of the car,’" Erin said.
She estimated she lost more than $3,000 worth of her belongings.
"Be aware this is going on in health clubs to lock up your things. Don't bring in anything valuable. And, to health clubs be, more aware who's coming in and out of your establishments and protect your members," said Axton.
"It's not uncommon for people to walk into these businesses whether they be gyms or fitness studios and pretend to be a member and then go into the locker room," said Sean Whitcomb with Seattle Police Department.
The best solution is to always use a padlock or combination lock, said police.
Officers said just because people have to be checked in or it's a members-only club, don't fall into that false sense of security.
"It doesn't matter if you're at a high-end gym or at the bus depot or the train station, if you're locking up your things in a locker it's not sufficient to drop them off and close the door and expect someone to go investigating to see what's in there," said Whitcomb.
Ballard Olympic Athletic Club's manager, Mark Durall, said the gym feels awful about what happened to Axton and have gone through the surveillance tape, but they have no way of identifying who stole the goods. The cameras are only on the outside of the door, not in the locker rooms due to privacy issues.
The gym has been trying to help members through this ordeal and called police immediately because Axton wasn't the only victim that day.
But the gym also reminded people there are signs posted to lock up their possessions and they have locks for rent at the front desk.
To add a comment, please register or login.