Car thieves have targeted five members of an LA Fitness gym in Buckhead since early August, police said.
In at least one case, someone broke a lock on a gym locker to steal a user’s bag with his car keys, Channel 2 Action News reported. The incidents happened at the Peachtree Road location near Lenox Road.
That victim, Luis Ortiz, encountered someone in his his vehicle when he checked on his car.
Accused car thief runs away without clothes on after fighting with a man not willing to give up his BMW. @ 11 https://t.co/R05l3FJkpD pic.twitter.com/L4wINEx56t
— Matt Johnson (@MattWSB) September 9, 2017
Ortiz told police he confronted the man in his vehicle, and the man punched him, Channel 2 reported. The men struggled until the man in the car took off all his clothes and ran away naked, Atlanta police said.
The thieves have gotten away with four vehicles, Atlanta police said. The crimes have taken place from about 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
"This is happening a lot in this really good area, so I don't know what’s going on," Ortiz said.
LA Fitness did not respond to a request for comment about the incidents by Channel 2.
In Ortiz's case, police saw footage of a person leaving by getting into a vehicle with another person, Channel 2 reported. One person also left his identification in his pants that were left behind.
Ortiz hopes police can stop the thefts before more people become victims.
“This is not just one time, or one person,” he said. “It's teamwork.”
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