Fitness Center Locker Theft Spree Continues

New details have emerged in a rash of locker thefts at the new Planet Fitness Center in Oak Lawn last week. The description of the alleged thief is consistent with descriptions in earlier police reports.

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Three members reported that their lockers had been broken into before 9:13 a.m. Jan. 30.

Surveillance cameras at Planet Fitness at 9503 S. Cicero Ave. captured a male black in his 20s or 30s about five-feet-six-inches tall, wearing a black and red Ecko sweatshirt entering the men’s locker room.

The first theft was reported at 8:10 a.m. when a 55-year-old woman told staff that her purse was stolen from her locker in the women’s locker room. As with the other thefts, the lock had been cut off the locker. Police said the woman lost her credit cards, debit card, house and car keys and had to be given a ride home by police.

When the woman was reporting the theft, two men also approached the desk to report that their lockers in the men’s locker room had been forcibly entered.

A 59-year-old man said he arrived around 7:22 a.m. when very few people were in the health club. After he finished his workout about an hour later, he noticed that the lock had been cut off his locker. The thief rifled through his belongings, taking the member’s driver’s license, credit cards, debit card and FOID card.

He reported to police that the male suspect was the only person to leave the locker room carrying any kind of bag.

A third member, a 52-year-old man, said the lock on his locker had also been cut and his wallet stolen.

Reports said after the alleged thief completed his handiwork in the men’s locker room, he proceeded into the women’s. Cameras captured the suspect leaving Planet Fitness and getting into an older red Chevy.

Police said the man had used a membership ID from another local Planet Fitness.

L.A. Fitness, at 8812 S. Cicero Ave., also reported thefts.

The rear passenger window of a car parked in the parking lot had been popped out using a pry tool sometime before 11 a.m. Jan. 31. The owner was located inside the club, who reported that his brief case containing papers and receipts had been stolen from the back seat.

Later that same day, at approximately 4:31 p.m., a 19-year-man said he had gone to play basketball at L.A. Fitness Center with a friend.

The two took off their jackets inside the basketball court containing their cell phones with a combined value of $400.

When the men went to retrieve their jackets, the jackets were gone.

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