Thieves continue to work the gyms in T.O
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

A second Thousand Oaks man was robbed of his pants and other items while he worked out at a local gym. "Someone stole my pants, belt, wallet, keys, glasses, watch and pocket knife," John B. Field said.

His locker at Gold's Gym in Janss Marketplace was burglarized about 1 p.m. June 4.

Twenty-four hours earlier, at 24-Hour Fitness in Thousand Oaks, Mauricio Guzman finished his 40-minute workout and found the lock had been broken off his locker. No longer inside were his blue jeans, cellphone, prescription eyeglasses and wallet with six credit cards inside.

Before Guzman got home, charges totaling more than $2,600 had been made on his missing credit cards.

Similarly, Field went back to the men's locker room at Gold's Gym after an hour's workout and found the clothes and valuables inside his locker missing, but the lock on his locker was still securely fastened.

He felt fortunate, he said, that his cellphone- - at the bottom of his gym bag- - was still there.

Field reported the theft to the gym's management, who were very helpful, he said. Police were called and a report was filed. He almost instantly canceled his credit cards so there was no loss there, but about $300 in cash was taken from his wallet, he said.

Field feared that his car parked in the parking lot had also been stolen. "When I walked out to the parking lot I didn't expect to see my car, but it was there," he said. The problem was, the thief also now had his address and his house key. So locksmiths were called, and $1,500 later, the locks to Field's home and cars had all been changed.

He had discovered a flaw in the locker, he said, which the gym has since fixed. The defect allowed a locker to be opened without removing the lock.

Sometimes locks are faulty, said Capt. Tim Hagel of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department.

"If you are paying $4 for a lock, you're not paying enough," he warned. "To be safe, people need a quality Master Lock." Master brand locks aren't easily defeated and they cost about $20 each, he said.

Shopping spree

Before Guzman could cancel his credit cards, someone fraudulently spent hundreds of dollars at a surf store and a golf store. Chili's restaurant was one of the thief's stops, as was the Macaroni Grill next door. More than $100 worth of gift certificates were also purchased, he said.

Within a couple of hours, purchases had been rung up at Sports Authority, Barnes and Noble, Restoration Hardware, Verizon Wireless, Starbucks, Mann Theatres and Bed, Bath and Beyond.

Police said the man suspected of taking Guzman's belongings is a 35-year-old Hispanic, 5 feet, 8 inches tall, 165 pounds, with black hair. Some retailers who remembered seeing the man described him as wearing Guzman's prescription glasses.

The man told store clerks he was buying gifts for his niece, Guzman said.

This is a crime that happens at every gym, Hagel said.

"The public needs to be made aware they should leave their valuables at home when they go to the gym," Hagel said.

"I frequent the gym, and because I work with these crimes, I know to only bring in my car key and driver's license," said Senior Dep. Russell King.

Gym patrons should keep their wallets with them when they work out and, if they must leave things in the car, be sure to lock them in the trunk, Hagel warned.

Even putting items inside the car where they cannot be seen isn't safe.

"People think if they put a towel or a sweatshirt over an item inside a car it'll be safe, but thieves will break a window to see what it is," King said.

Watch who's watching

Another tip from law enforcement is to pay attention to your surroundings. Gym thieves are always watching their victims, so gym patrons need to look and see if someone is watching them.

"Report it if there is anyone suspicious loitering in the locker room," Hagel said.

A few months ago, thieves were frequently stealing from unlocked or inadequately secured lockers at gyms in Thousand Oaks and in other areas. Keys taken from lockers were being used to unlock patrons' cars parked outside. An arrest was made, and the gym scene had been quiet as far as crime is concerned until these two incidents, King said. Investigations into both recent thefts are continuing, he said.