24 Jan 2019

Man charged with stealing from members at 24 Auckland gyms

4:27 pm on 24 January 2019

A man has been arrested and charged after a spate of gym burglaries across Auckland over the last month.

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Photo: 123rf.com

Police said the 25-year-old man is accused of stealing access cards and following members into the gyms, then rifling through their belongings.

Police said many of the victims had no idea they had been burgled until much later, when their bank cards were used at service stations.

More than 24 gyms were targeted from Royal Oak to Henderson.

Police are urging people to keep their valuables locked away when they are unattended, especially in public places, said Acting Detective Sergeant Steve Salton.

"Please don't leave them in plain sight or in your vehicles where someone can easily snatch them. If you lose your credit card or notice something is missing, immediately inform your bank, [they] can cancel the card."

The man has been charged with burglary and unlawfully using a document, and will appear in Waitakere District Court next month.

If you see someone acting suspiciously, call 111 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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