WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Locker-room thefts

| Crime | Triangle | West Seattle news

Thanks for the texted tip about multiple locker-room thefts at the West Seattle YMCA (WSB sponsor) on Tuesday. One of the victims reports:

At least half a dozen lockers (Men’s) were broken into between 10:45-11:15 am at the West Seattle YMCA. Only wallets were stolen. Cell phones and other valuables were not taken. This was discovered rather quickly and most of us were able to cancel or put a hold on our cards. Cards were attempted to (be used) at QFC and Safeway near Alaska Junction as well as the Walgreens and gas station near 35th & Morgan.

The thefts were all included in one police report, which we requested and obtained this afternoon. It says the police have obtained security video showing five “males” (no further description) arriving outside the Y in a “white 4-door sedan.” They went into the Y at 10:56 am. Two started talking to desk staff; the other three walked toward the locker room. Less than 15 minutes later, all five left. There were at least six victims; police obtained some broken-lock fragments as evidence. Some of the victims were already getting “fraudulent activity” alerts from their banks/credit-card companies, so police followed a trail including, as mentioned above, the 35th/Morgan gas station and Walgreens. The suspects tried to buy $500 gift cards at the latter, the police report says, but were unsuccessful. We also asked Y executive director Shalimar Gonzales about the thefts; she says they’re working with police and “in the meantime have increased staff visibility in those spaces and added signage. We’re encouraging everyone to keep valuables at home or use our lockers in the cardio center.”

zephyr August 7, 2019 (9:31 pm)

Quote: ” Two started talking to desk staff; the other three walked toward the locker room.”At that point the individuals should have been stopped immediately. Sounds like the desk staff need to be more alert and proactive. This is unacceptable. If the locks were broken, then they were obviously carrying in a pair of bolt cutters. Surely at that time of day the locker room was occupied with some Y members as well. To be honest that locker room is designed poorly. It does not feel like a safe space.Why the Y can’t provide basic security and a secure place to lock one’s gear and clothing is beyond me. This has happened before. They just raised the membership dues to fund more of their community outreach programs. Why not spend some of those funds to train their staff and put a roving person to mind the shop? That comment about putting up signs is ridiculous. Such a lackadaisical attitude toward their members’ security and valuables. They sound like the L.A. Fitness folks.

Kadoo August 8, 2019 (1:30 pm)

Sounds like you need to get the facts straight before you criticize the Y.

Beckyjo August 7, 2019 (10:05 pm)

I saw two of the little punks at Safeway yesterday trying to buy gift cards.

Also John August 8, 2019 (6:50 am)

This makes me sick. Get a job like everyone else. How do five people find each other with the same thought?…..’Lets go steal from the Y’.I hope they’re all in jail real soon. Glad to hear the Y has a video.

Azimuth August 8, 2019 (7:29 am)

This is why I quit exercising years ago

momosmom August 8, 2019 (8:38 am)

I know this subject/story is not funny but AZIMUTH…..LOL!!!!

L August 8, 2019 (11:39 am)

PROBABLY THE SAME GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT DOES THIS AT LA FITNESS

Greystreet August 8, 2019 (12:19 pm)

The difference is they don’t have to use bolt cutters at LA fitness because the number of guys that don’t use a lock on their locker is staggering, they probably just fish through everyone’s things silently there…well this certainly deters me from checking out the Y while LA is closed for 4 weeks

newnative August 8, 2019 (2:13 pm)

I really don’t understand how this kind of theft happens. In my gym they watch you check in, greet you, no one gets to the locker room without checking in. Once in the locker room, people chit chat and greet each other. How could three youths get past any kind of security and in and out of people’s wallets without getting stopped? It just blows me away.

John August 8, 2019 (2:34 pm)

Changing the process from scanning your own card to having an employee scan them probably doesn’t change anything since the lobby area is so large it’s hard to know who is coming or going.The downtown location has a turnstile that unlocks when you scan your card. I know it’s not ideal, but it would at least add an extra barrier. Of course the WS location is full of families so I imagine the turnstiles would get jammed up too.

MercyMoi August 8, 2019 (4:18 pm)

They do something similar at the Matt Griffin YMCA, but it’s a gate that locks/unlocks, not turnstiles. Plenty of families at that place.

jack August 8, 2019 (6:45 pm)

They have kids monitoring the place at minimum wage, what could go wrong.

Bradley August 9, 2019 (1:15 am)

I used to manage a large commercial gym in a nice area and locker room thefts were epidemic even back then. Most were items stolen from UNLOCKED LOCKERS: wallets, laptop computers, car keys (in which the cars were stolen afterwards), dayplanners full of vital information, etc. I was always shocked at the valuables members would leave unlocked. A Master lock is just a few bucks.

Sillygoose August 9, 2019 (7:59 am)

I am curious as to why this facility doesn’t have a membership swipe card to get into a locked facility. With children on the premises this is concerning. Front desk receptionist is the gate keep he/she needs to be terminated.

hj August 9, 2019 (9:10 am)

Isn’t it concerning with everyone, not just children?
Bradley August 9, 2019 (10:50 pm)

Front desks at large, commercial gyms are notoriously understaffed, especially in Seattle with the high minimum wage. It’s not fair to blame someone who’s probably by themselves with waves of paying members coming in and out, buying tanning packages, supplements, having ringing phones to answer, answering questions, etc. On top of that, they can’t leave the desk to follow suspicious guests around.
- Mariem August 13, 2019 (1:23 am)
  
  If they can’t staff for safety and security of members they have a duty to use a technology solutions for access.
Mmarie August 13, 2019 (1:20 am)

I agree the security impact on children’s safety while within y is also of concern in this scenario. I’ve always thought of the y as a safe space for our kids, but it’s not necessarily if non-members can get past the front desk.

MMB August 12, 2019 (10:30 pm)

I was one of the people who had a wallet stolen during this incident. Most of us who had items stolen had locks on, including myself. The casement around the latch was completely ripped off the door and the lock was no where to be found. I don’t recall (in 9 yrs) being in that locker room where there weren’t a few other individuals in it. In my naiveté, I remain surprised they bust into that many lockers during the peak a.m. hours. The whole front lobby is poorly designed to keep people out that shouldn’t be there. No-one should be able to get past the front desk without membership or ID. What frustrates me is that there has been zero follow-up from the YMCA in regards to details of the events, and changes that they will make to mitigate risk in the future. They have done nothing to reach out since the incident. There are signs up in the lockers to not leave valuables in lockers. Really? Is it unreasonable to leave a change of clothes, wallet, keys in a locker if you put a lock on it? Furthermore, the Y hasn’t sent out an email to members about the incident to raise community awareness. To a degree this sort of crime cannot be completely avoided, but the lack of observable management response to the situation leaves the impression that they are not trying.

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