WEST SEATTLE CRIME WATCH: Another case of car theft following gym-locker break-in (update: car found)

| Crime | West Seattle news

Carolina emailed to report that her husband’s car was stolen after a locker break-in:

He was working out this morning at the LA Fitness in West Seattle and someone in the locker room broke his lock, stole his bag with the wallet, car and house keys. When he went down to the garage, his car was gone too. Police are aware and working with LA Fitness management to locate the car and thief.

Convertible Mazda Miata 2005. Has rollbar, exhaust, gray color, 5 spoke rims. Has “mazdaspeed” emblem on passenger rear bumper. License Plate: BWN5554. SPD incident # 22-110754.

We had a similar reader report back in March.

WEDNESDAY UPDATE: Carolina tells us the car’s been found, in Burien.

WSEA May 3, 2022 (11:48 am)

I read the title and knew his has to be LA Fitness. Sure enough, it was. Suprised management has not solved the problem yet.

NotSurprised May 3, 2022 (12:41 pm)

Was just talking about the crime problems in WS yesterday to my hubby that LA Fitness in West Seattle has had car break-ins and locker room thefts in the past year or so.I just signed up at a health club yesterday – not at LA Fitness though.

Jim P. May 3, 2022 (1:03 pm)

Rather impressive someone can break a lock in a place clearly being used and no one notices.I am suspicious enough to wonder if it’s a new employee.

Questionable May 3, 2022 (1:16 pm)

I am trying to understand how thief comes to have access to LA Fitness even though they are member or non member. Does LA fitness front desk let people come in and go? If so, I think LA fitness needs to bump up the security even with locker rooms and members. Apparently it is NOT secured for anyone who comes for work out, not for stealing. Lockers need to beef up the security with the passcode.

1994 May 3, 2022 (8:41 pm)

They could hire locker room attendants to keep the place tidy and keep an eye out for nefarious activity….

Claire Rosenberg May 3, 2022 (2:07 pm)

Same thing at the same location happened to me in March this year. It was also posted on this blog. My car is still missing. LA fitness does not care to help and they will not prevent it from happening again. Curious to see if the garage and gym cameras “weren’t working that day” again and if Amanda the district manager at la fitness Will actually be of some help to you. So sorry I know how violating this feels. I also signed up for west Seattle health club they’re a much better club and safer

Adam May 3, 2022 (2:13 pm)

Hey all…this is the owner of the car. LA fitness does not/has not been checking for membership at the front desk lately. This guy waltzed right in. After this incident this morning they set up tables near the elevator to corral people into scanning their ID’s. My locker was locked and forcibly broken. Police reviewed the security footage and this person knew where the cameras were/ positioned himself to be out of sight of the elevator cam. I went home and got in my wife’s car and found the guy, twice, based on him trying to run my frozen credit cards at the Westwood target. He eluded me at high speed both times. Seattle PD also found/ attempted to stop him and he was able to evade them as well…I last spotted the car going south and crossing over to Burien on side streets near Fred Meyer.

carguy May 3, 2022 (2:13 pm)

Looks like a real Mazdaspeed Miata! I hope it makes its way back to its rightful owner ASAP

HS May 3, 2022 (2:19 pm)

I am very sorry to read that this happened to you. This is my gym. I like working out there and seeing other members. I’m just going to add that although LA Fitness has certainly been targeted, similar thefts have occurred at the Y across the street. We clearly have an auto theft problem in WS… theft, street racing, shots from vehicles, abandoned stolen cars post accident… I personally think it’s gang related (my opinion based on youth arrests, descriptions of youth at crime scenes, and reports of youth being hospitalized for gun shot injuries).

East Coast Cynic May 3, 2022 (7:11 pm)

If it is a gang problem, I hope that if the SPD gets more funding they can bring back the gang unit, or if it is still in existence, give them more money to monitor and quickly arrest those individuals when they commit crime.

ltfd May 3, 2022 (2:44 pm)

It’s very troubling that law enforcement is generally not able to pursue this dirtbag just because he chooses to accelerate away. :-(

Rhonda May 3, 2022 (3:37 pm)

That’s because of HB 1310 that was passed in the 2021 State Legislature. It was passed along party lines against the advice of law enforcement officials, victim’s rights advocates, prosecutors, etc.
bill May 3, 2022 (4:45 pm)

High speed pursuits have proven to be too dangerous to bystanders and police. Better not to escalate property crime to injury or death.
- Rhonda May 3, 2022 (11:01 pm)
  
  Since thousands of violent criminals use stolen cars to commit their often-deadly crimes, NOT pursuing stolen vehicles leads to more injuries and deaths later.

Donna Snow May 3, 2022 (3:44 pm)

Why would anyone go to LA Fitness at all? Their history of stolen cars and LAF not caring is appalling!

vanessa May 3, 2022 (4:22 pm)

I guess no one cares from LA Fitness. This problem has been going on for a really long time. I know a lot of people who decided not to join this club, because of the consistent car break ins at this facility.

Sue H May 3, 2022 (6:03 pm)

When I was looking to join a club last year, I didn’t even consider LA Fitness based on all these stories.

Tar N Feather May 3, 2022 (5:42 pm)

Also had my locker broken into from there a year or two ago, luckily only wallet was taken (keys were on my person). Even tracked down who it was from matching security footage at what tills were used in the QFC and Safeway (lots of giftcard purchases), compiled all the info for SPD and still nothing ever happened. The person who took it definitely did not look clean and was spotted on a bicycle outside the grocery store. Was mid 40s-50s white male.

Rachel May 3, 2022 (5:44 pm)

Walked in LA Fitness Sunday evening. No one at the front desk. No one at any of the sales tables. No security. No one cleaning. Both Before and after my workout. The last time this happened I asked the first desk people about crime at that location, they said keep personal items on you. Never leave keys or phone in the lockers, even with a lock on it. SAD.

Josue Haro May 3, 2022 (6:08 pm)

L.A fitness is unsafe for anyone, actually yesterday I saw a locker all broken with no door, how this is posible for people not seing anything? I think is a group of people “well organized” doing this sorry to heard that about the car of this person, hope comeback soon.Josue Haro

LN May 4, 2022 (8:58 am)

Sorry to hear about your car. I hope they find it. It sucks but I’ve resorted to just carrying my keys and stuff on me now. I do not trust those lockers. The camera does work from what I was told when my car was stolen but it’s grainy and they ended leaving my car across the street from YMCA. Very frustrating situation.

WSB May 4, 2022 (9:25 am)

Updating above – Carolina reports the car’s been found.

Peter May 4, 2022 (9:31 am)

So glad I cancelled by gym membership early in the pandemic and now just work out at home!

dhg May 4, 2022 (5:03 pm)

Have an iphone? or ipad? Buy an apple airtag and hide it in the car. Next time it’s stolen, you’ll know where it is.

snack May 4, 2022 (10:44 pm)

I talked to the new LAF Operations Manager, Melania( been there 4 weeks) this past week about the locker room and car theft problem this week.. As for staffing, she has been told by the corporate office, they can’t hire any more staff, thus the front desk is unattended on occasion.I don’t use the lockers, keep car keys and iPhone with me. Another option for keys and iPhone, wallets is to use the small free, lockable cubbies they have near the front desk.

Sorry, comment time is over.