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CPD offering reward to catch Gold's Gym thieves
Perpetrators using stolen credit cards to purchase equipment
By Moryt Milo
Campbell residents may be losing more than a few pounds at their local gyms.
Since April 2001, a string of car burglaries have occurred in the parking lot of Gold's Gym, 700 W. Hamilton Ave. Members who leave valuables in their cars instead of placing them in a locker have reported wallets, cash, laptop computers and other personal items missing.
The thefts, which occur once a month, have increased over time, with four burglaries costing $13,000 in unauthorized purchases.
"The [thieves] are observing the parking lot and watching where people put their valuables," Campbell Police Department Financial Crimes Investigator Cindy Campbell said. "They are very sophisticated."
The CPD began noticing a trend last April when Gold's Gym members called to report their credit cards stolen and unauthorized purchases appearing on their credit card statements from Fry's Electronics, 600 E. Hamilton Ave., and Home Depot, 480 E. Hamilton Ave.
Campbell said 12-14 burglaries have been reported, with the most recent occurring on Feb. 20, and she didn't rule out the possibility that additional thefts have gone unreported.
"The problem is occurring in gyms throughout the peninsula, not just at Gold's Gym," she said.
Most of the robberies occur in the evening hours between 5 and 7 p.m., when the parking lot is busy and it's dark. The thieves do not shatter car windows, but rather open doors either with a Slim Jim or keys. Often, members return to locked cars and don't realize anything has been stolen until they are home, Campbell said.
"These people are very surreptitious," former Gold's Gym manager Wil Christensen said. "They stalk members from the outside of the club and later enter the club under the pretense of being interested in a membership. We could have very likely toured these individuals and gave them a free workout."
Some club members are very trusting, he added. Instead of locking their clothes, keys or wallets in a gym locker, they leave their valuables in an open area.
Christensen theorizes that the thieves somehow had keys and opened members' cars because most of the break-ins do little damage to vehicles.
The thieves have the robberies well timed and work quickly.
"The robbery and unauthorized purchases occur within a 10-minute window," Campbell said. "The suspects know they have very little time so they shop quickly."
She also said the added element of fraud is what makes the case stand out. The thieves are consistently using stolen credit cards to buy high-end electronic equipment at Fry's, with purchases ranging between $1,000 and $2,500.
"We haven't been made aware that there is an acute problem at that store," Fry's community relations manager Manuel Valerio, said. "If there is a problem we would work with law enforcement."
CPD officials also said obtaining in-store video information from Fry's would help solve the case.
"The Campbell police are taking this very seriously and offering a $500 reward for any information, that leads to solving the case," Campbell said.
The CPD is also working closely with Gold's Gym to stress the importance of removing all valuables from inside cars and placing them in a locker.
The CPD said gym members shouldn't assume that their valuables are safe anywhere inside their cars.
"One member tried to hide a wallet in a baby seat and when that person returned to the car it had been broken into and the only thing disturbed was the [infant seat]," Campbell said. "These [thieves] are really scrutinizing the situation."
Christensen was concerned for the safety of his staff, who leave their cars in the lot during work, and the club's members.
"With Cindy's help we sorted things out," he said. "What really helped us was the Campbell Police Department's [proactive] approach. They put flyers up at the entrances and outside the locker rooms."
The flyers warn people about the car break-ins, and instruct them to take all valuables out of their vehicles and put them inside a gym locker. Gym members are also urged to park in well-lit areas and to call the CPD immediately if anything is stolen.
If you have any information regarding these crimes, contact the Campbell Police Department at 408.866.2101 for non-emergencies, 408.866.2182 for investigations, or Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers 408.947.STOP. Anyone calling Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous.
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Campbell, California
