View from the cop: Crime & punishment
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AJC.com > Metro > View from the cop > Archives > 2005 > September > 30 > Entry
Yeggs will give your wallet a workout at fitness clubs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
There are two reasons most people become targets for thieves and burglars. Laziness and procrastination. (Uh, I’ll get to procrastination later.)
If you read this report often enough you’ll understand why I keep my day job. You’ll also read about thefts at fitness centers time after time. Regardless of how many times we see it or hear of it, most of us will ignore it until it happens to us.
We don’t like to change our routines without having a good reason, such as, having our stuff taken away from us.
People place watches and wallets full of credit cards and money into a locker protected by a locking device worth about $5. They come back to find the locker pried or the lock cut. Missing is the wallet, credit cards and cash, and the $10,000 Rolex Presidential Super Deluxe Limited Edition Really Fancy watch. The watch alone is worth the same as a down payment on a Third World country.
Fitness clubs are in the business of fitness and providing a place for young and fabulous people to look at one another in the mirrors after they look at themselves in the mirrors. I rarely see them. I’m over at the senior section where they have defibrillators next to the treadmill. That’s why the lights dim frequently.
I occasionally try to mix in with the younger fabulous workout people, but I’m not cut out for the really aggressive workout regimen. Let’s just say those crunches, that at one time were a way to get my abs tight, are now just another way to pass gas.
Fitness centers are not bank vaults. They know thieves do get in and do access the locker areas. That’s why they have those signs that say leave your stuff in the car. Thieves carry pry tool in their gym bags. They pry the locker, get in and out in a minute. They either take what’s in the wallet and leave or they take the keys and beep your car outside and go in it as well.
What’s the answer?
There is no one simple answer, but in terms of how you think or approach it, you need to look at the problem and ask yourself how you would commit the crime. If I’m a thief working a fitness club I’m going to watch who comes in and what they’re wearing. When they pick a locker I would note it and then return when no one is around. Pop the locker, take the wallet, keys, super expensive Rolex and drop them in my bag and go.
You stand a better chance of keeping your watches and wallets if they aren’t in the locker. That’s not to say the thief won’t get your keys and then beep the car in the parking lot. I would consider bringing the keys with you during the workout or when you check out the mirrors. Safety pin them to your clothes. You should, however, make it a rule to never put a wallet or other expensive or negotiable items in a gym locker.
What about the car?
If you are one of the only 17 people in North Fulton County who do not own an SUV, then use the trunk. Within the trunk are a lot of places that you could stash jewelry or money so that if the trunk were opened, the thief would still have to take time to look. They don’t have a lot of time.
If you do have an SUV then remember to hide something that would require a thief to look for a while. Places not to hide items are:
— The console
— Above the sun visor
— Under a piece of clothing in the seat
— Under the floor mats
— Side pockets
— Under the seats
You need to check your car for places that you wouldn’t think would be a good hiding place but in fact are.
Rule number one: Don’t forget where that place is.
Losing items in your home due to a burglary is different from losing them in a fitness club. You have the option not to take those things into the club. Find a way to protect your stuff.
Don’t think someone isn’t watching when you wear all that fancy stuff as you walk to the locker room all the while looking at yourself — and then others — in the mirror.
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By Brad
September 30, 2005 7:49 AM | Link to this
Back Off Portly Steve. Are you trying to give sound advice for securing valuables in a hostile environmet or using this blog as a personal sounding board to make yourself and many of your out of shape law enforcement type officers feel better about their southern fried paunches? Not everyone who one is young and fit ( relatively young that is) spends all their time staring at mirrors and each other. Many of us who drop all that cash on the membership actually use the equipment for WORKING OUT, not sitting down and wheezing after four miniutes of cardio and drooling on ourselves with wistful hopelessness as the ‘young and fit’ ( because I guess you can’t be old and fit) women walk by with nary a glance towards you. Maybe if you wore your gun and badge over your baggy cover-up workout clothes, you’d get a couple of stares to make you feel better. …
By Cindy Pursley
September 30, 2005 8:27 AM | Link to this
In order to avoid having your car broken into, try to remember to place the wallet and your other valuables in their hiding place BEFORE you get to the gym. The thieves could be watching you there as well and then know exactly where the stuff is in your car.
By Steven
September 30, 2005 8:51 AM | Link to this
Steve: Enjoyed reading your article. The humor is so true. Thanks for the reminder and awareness.
By Gael
September 30, 2005 8:59 AM | Link to this
The article on the fitness clubs; priceless! You have a way with words that both entertain while still being educational for the public at large. Thanks for the lessons while making me laugh…made my day!
By M2C
September 30, 2005 9:11 AM | Link to this
Try a fanny pack, carry your keys and wallet. Keep it on you or attached to the treadmill next to your water bottle and towel. It’s not rocket surgery!
By Brad Waxes His Legs
September 30, 2005 9:58 AM | Link to this
Out of all that information, Brad is focused on the comment about people watching each other in the mirrors? Sounds like a ton of resentment from a guy who works out hoping to win back the girl that dumped him for a cop.
By Romona
September 30, 2005 10:41 AM | Link to this
…Det. Rose, I love reading your blog - it’s great humor! :) This was a great reminder that people need every once in while. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of irresponsible people out there, so keep doing what you do!
By Brad Plucks His Eyebrows Too
September 30, 2005 10:46 AM | Link to this
Lighten up Brad. This younger generation today just isn’t too bright. What’s wrong with using fanny/waist packs to keep valuable items? They will sacrifice all of their worldly possessions just to look cute and cool. The packs made nowadays have sections for water, wallet, keys AND the infamous cell phone. And don’t try to use the excuse of the packs being too bulky or getting in the way. You can turn them so that the contents are in front, in the back or on the side. And if I can do a 20-mile walk on the Silver Comet trail with one strapped to my waist, I’m sure you can survive one spin class (or whatever the heck it is they’re doing these days). If people want to talk about you, so what? At least your car is waiting for you when you get outside. P.S. – Keep up the good work Steve. Brad is just jealous.
By TB
September 30, 2005 12:54 PM | Link to this
During the years of working out at a North Fulton gym I saw many smash and grabs in the parking lot. Park and have to avoid all of the glass from them.I never heard of any of the lockers being pried open but worried about it happening. I carried a gym bag large enough for cutters myself and I’m a girl. If I forgot to leave jewelry at home I kept it on.It does happen and I’m sure more now than the five years ago I went to the gym. I bought my own gym to have at home. I went with a friend recently and now with camera phones people are taking pictures of you as you dress and posting them online, watch for that as well.
By Harry Jackson
September 30, 2005 1:14 PM | Link to this
I (lawyer) used to represent several fitness clubs. We called locker break-ins “Rolex raids” because the victims always claimed a Rolex was stolen. Never any other brand. No imigationtion? In response we “claimed” we had a sign on every locker saying don’t leave your valuables here and we “claimed” we had a clause in the contract where the member acknowledged we were not responsible for locker thefts. We always won. The thieves, by the way, almost never hit just one locker but several at a time.
By Old and almost fit
September 30, 2005 1:27 PM | Link to this
Steve, I enjoy your column and your view of life. I am still amazed that people go into my gym and either put all their stuff in a locker without even the protection of the $5 locking device, and even some people who just lay their clothes, walled and all, on an empty chair in the locker room. They need to excercise that limp muscle between their ears a little more.
By Stace
September 30, 2005 2:45 PM | Link to this
Though he doesn’t need it, I was gonna come to Detective Rose’s defense. However some VERY able posters before me blew Brad out of the water. And speaking from experience (over 20 years in the health club industry in Maine and Georgia) his information on your valuables is 100% correct (along with his take on the mirrors…ahgh, try having to clean them daily, yeck).
By Brad has hidden road rage too
September 30, 2005 2:45 PM | Link to this
Great blog Det. Rose, I enjoy reading it. Very informative. Keep up the good work. A fan in WV.
By Peggy
September 30, 2005 3:11 PM | Link to this
M2C, what the heck is rocket surgery? I think you mean either “rocket science” or “brain surgery”. Love your articles, Steve.
By Frank
September 30, 2005 3:57 PM | Link to this
“Rocket surgery”???
By Cheryl
September 30, 2005 10:35 PM | Link to this
I am OUTRAGED that thieves are targeting people at workout facilities In 1999, I was the unfortunate vicitm of a locker break-in in, of all places, The YWCA - Young Womens’ Christian Association (supposedly a place for born-again Christians to work out without fear of robbery)! I lost cash, my ATM card, and my purse (if I remember correctly). Sadly, because cameras in the locker room would infringe on members’ privacy, there was no description of the suspect recorded. Still, a camera in the HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE LOCKER ROOM would have done the job! Master Lock claims its products are tough and break-in resistant…for me that was NOT the case!
By dwj
October 1, 2005 12:44 AM | Link to this
I had the misfortune of having my locker broken into at the gym while I was working out. Fortunately, I’ve always believed that I shouldn’t carry anything into the gym that I couldn’t afford to lose. So all the thief got was a whiff of some smelly gym socks, and I got a new lock out of the deal.
By Brad
October 1, 2005 8:41 AM | Link to this
hey…
Sounds like I touched a nerve, not surprisingly, folks glossed over my agreement about good advice for locker room security and focussed on my comments about bashing people who take their workouts seriously, not the mirrors, you folks probably spend more time staring in then working out!
By LASHONN
October 1, 2005 12:44 PM | Link to this
THIS IS A FACT. I HOPE THAT EVERYONE WILL REMEMBER TO THINK LIKE A PERSON THAT WANTS TO TAKE YOUR OWN PERSONAL ITEMS….
By Robert
October 1, 2005 3:34 PM | Link to this
At my job, idiots will place their belongings (including wallets with money, etc.) in an unlocked locker when they work out. Then, they are shocked if they are gone when they return.
Lock it up, fellas!
By Paula
October 2, 2005 12:31 AM | Link to this
It’s kind of amusing that we take all kinds of precautions when travelling abroad, but don’t bother with any of it at home. If you search hard enough, you can buy pants, shirts, and underwear (even socks) with zippered or velcroved pockets to stash credit cards, driver’s licenses, keys, etc. You might not be the most stylish person in the gym, but you’ll have all your stuff when you leave and maybe a little more muscle.
By Avid Steve Rose Reader
October 3, 2005 2:13 PM | Link to this
Once again good advice on protecting your valuables and paying attention to what you do with important things..and most of all with great humor. I must say I wasn’t to happy when it turned into a blog, but I see some of the comments have me laughing just as hard. Especially those of you that “agree” with Brad. LOL
By Lindsay Rose
October 3, 2005 5:35 PM | Link to this
Brad—get a job… that’s all I have to say… My dad works out almost every day and played baseball for many years… why is it that computer nerds just sit around waiting to bash on someone?? Seriously..step away from the computer…it’s making you a little too hostile… and grow up… (and please remember—do get a job!!! Or some kind of hobby)… and lay off my dad…. he’s healthier than I am…. Love you dad…
Lindsay Rose
By Jado
October 3, 2005 6:18 PM | Link to this
Great article and very good advice. I broke up a theft ring in 2002 that was breaking into vehicles in gym parking lots, targeting purses left in view. Then the credit cards, checks, etc would be used immediately. So not only did the victim come out to a smashed window, she had to deal with hundreds or thousands in fraudulent losses. The perp was a woman too, so don’t get a false sense of security if you see a woman walking through the parking lot.
By wayne
October 11, 2005 3:29 AM | Link to this
Beware of gyms where it’s possible to get to the locker rooms via some other hallway that does not even pass in front of the people at the front door.
I used to work out at a local ‘wellness center’ that was configured like this and there were multiple breakins during my year or so there.
There should only be one way to get to the locker rooms— going by the front desk, and everyone should have to beep in with one of those barcode cards. These things help a bit.
By SnottyNozeBratt
October 11, 2005 11:56 AM | Link to this
Gosh that’s so sweet, your daughter sticking up for you!
um, Brad, golly what’s up with you anyway? such hostility. I thought they say exercise is good for stress, no?