Gym manager accused of breaking into lockers

The manager of an LA Fitness gym in Buford has been arrested for allegedly breaking into members’ lockers to steal valuables.

Police believe Mark Medrano, 35, of Lawrenceville, may also have used a machine found at his home to clone stolen credit cards and commit identity fraud.

Medrano was arrested Friday after an off-duty Gwinnett County police officer working out at the club caught him rifling through lockers at the LA Fitness at 3420 Buford Drive. A subsequent search of Medrano and his gym bag uncovered a stolen laptop and a wedding ring believed to have been poached from unsuspecting gym members, said Gwinnett police spokesman Cpl. David Schiralli.

The victims, who were still inside the gym when the thefts were uncovered, positively identified the stolen property as theirs, Schiralli said. Police said Medrano was also carrying bolt cutters in his gym bag.

Medrano is charged with one count of theft by receiving, two counts of criminal attempt to commit a crime and one count of possession of tools for commission of crime.

When officers served a search warrant at Medrano’s home, they found a machine used to clone credit cards, along with numerous drivers licenses, credit card and personal effects believed to belong to other victims.

“Right now we’re still investigating and attempting to locate the owners of the items found in the house,” Schiralli said.

Schiralli said he did not know how long Medrano had been working for the LA Fitness or how many people he may have stolen from during that time.