[mikeythemini]

We have today had our 3rd customer in this week who has had their car stolen from a gym. He has been speaking to the police who told him there is a spate of gym car thefts.
The thief gets a short term membership of a gym (many offer a 5 day trial)
Sit in the car park & wait for a tasty car
Follow the driver into the gym (they have a pass remember)
watch what locker the bag & car keys go into
Wait for the driver to go off training, pop the locker, get the keys, take the car
Be careful where you leave your keys folks

[captint]

Thats well dodgy, as I was in the Gym on Wednesday and came out and saw 3 lads in a black Lupo looking really dodgy, later on that night I mentioned it to a mate, who had seen them cruzing around the car park 45 mins later. This was in Reading though

[Lawrothegreat]

The key always follows me up into the gym, it's a bit of a hassle but it prevents someone taking your car by breaking a simple locker lock mechanism. Key stays in the locker for swimming though.

[wiz]

Thanks for the warning, my keys stay with me.

[Randall Raines]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lawrothegreat (original)

The key always follows me up into the gym, it's a bit of a hassle but it prevents someone taking your car by breaking a simple locker lock mechanism. Key stays in the locker for swimming though.

Not much you can do when you're swimming , although swimming baths usually have an attendant around most of the time .

Quote: Originally Posted by mikeythemini (original)

Follow the driver into the gym (they have a pass remember)
watch what locker the bag & car keys go into
Wait for the driver to go off training, pop the locker, get the keys, take the car
Be careful where you leave your keys folks

Just goin' to say it's not just the Gym, the baths have been mentioned by "Lawrothegreat", it's where ever you leave or have to leave your keys / bags / coats etc... etc... (even at home leave'em safe out of sight of windows / letterbox's whatever time of day)

You should treat your keys like there worth the value of your car (your insurance may also not pay out dependent on where you actually left them ), you wouldn't leave £10,000 etc... etc... In your jacket pocket hung up (possibly in a cloakroom or locker) while havin' a drink, meal or at collage, gym etc... etc...

I know my comment above is a little extreme but people don't seem to worry where they leave their keys yet they wouldn't leave a few £100 cash in the same place, as "mikeythemini" says, Be careful where you leave your keys folks .

[Lucky Dave]

An additional starting method could be devised maybe mikey?

Like a hidden switch for the masses!

Fingerprint is on the market now.

When going to the gym you could take the little plastic mini key and keep it with you?

[mella yella fella]

no worries here, I just avoid the gym

[Harpo]

This scam featured on a TV programme a few months ago - if I recall correctly it was 'The Real Hustle' - so maybe we have them to thank for the current spate of thefts.

Alternatively go to the gym in a Perodua Nippa. In the worst case scenario it'll still be there at the end of your workout. If not you'll have to catch the bus which will be infinitely more desirable than the ride you arrived in.

[paul04]

Think I will keep my keys with me all of the time

[popey]

Another reason to avoid the gym .

Bad news tho. Maybe mikey could come up with a keyless implant.

[tyrerc]

this is something that was all the range in community sports centres back when i was a life guard.
Remember these people are optimists and usually don't look dodgy as they aim to look 'the part'.

Chris

[Lolance]

I always carry mine on me. Plus the gym is full of meatheads with fast cars so mine is less likely to get nicked...

[*Vikki*]

I never leave my keys out of my site, i trust no one.. dont even leave them on my desk at work for a split second.

[Lawrothegreat]

Quote: Originally Posted by Lolance (original)

Plus the gym is full of meatheads with fast cars so mine is less likely to get nicked...

I've always wondered why the carparks of gyms are full of £30k to £40k machinery, and yet when you go inside people don't look like they're climbing the corporate ladder or committed to any job. It's one of those quirks of society I can't explain.

[Gristy]

Good warning...

Have always taken my keys in with me for this reason

Also saw someone dismantle the cheap locks they give you at LA Fitness the other week. It was his own locker and the lock was knackered and he didn't need to use much force - after i saw this, i have now bought a better lock....

[Ant FR]

to be honest i'm doubtful of that highlighted scam. I would be shocked if any thief went to that extreme to get a mini. Surely just breaking into someones house and grabing the keys at night would be easier.

but good security highlight

[mister.t]

A friend had this happen a few weeks ago to his brand new Pug 107 He saw his locker was broken into and feared for the worst - Sure enough some bunch of a******* had it away with his keys The car was only 4 days old too

[~Marcus~]

i've always been wary of leaving my keys in a locker with a ropey padlock so I shall take them with me in future. There are richer pickings in my gym though, Porsches and a Lamborghini the other day! Always 5 or 6 MINIs in the car park, mine is the nicest I reckon

[Jennie]

My husband had his Mazda 6 sport stolen while we attended a wedding reception. The keys were taken from our hotel room. Sods came through the window via the scaffolding up the side of the building. Pain in the arse when your 60 miles from home!

[J1JPE]

You can get a keysafe - a very solid steel box with it's own coded lock door - u can then screw that to the inside of your locker - if you have your own on contract eg at Virgin.

but that doesn't help where the lockers are shared; you could keep the keysafe in the locker & if they knick it theyd need a pneumatic drill to get in but that doesnt help u drive your car home ...

suggest notifying gym managers to be more vigilant because of this