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Unsolved crime worries Plano Life Time Fitness members
By Josh Hixson, Staff Writer
Thefts earlier this month at Life Time Fitness centers in Plano and Colleyville have some members worried the fitness chain has a lack of concern for their safety.
When Frank Smith, 58, of Plano, Shawn Watkins, 37, of Frisco and Timothy Trone, 58, of Plano, returned to the locker room of the Plano Life Time Fitness on Aug. 8 after spending their lunch hours working out, the three strangers shared one thing in common.
All three had left Rolex watches in their lockers and all three had their lockers broken into that day. In all, about $32,414 worth of property was stolen from the three during a 45-minute period, according to a Plano police report.
“We all had Rolex watches,” Watkins said. “We all walked in at different times. Someone was watching us walk in and was able to coordinate us working out and then going in and stealing our belongings.”
Watkins said his locker had been un-locked and re-locked, while Smith said his was broken into with what appeared to be a crow bar.
“We were targeted,” Smith said. “We were watched and they knew which lockers to break into.”
After discovering the thefts, Smith and Watkins spoke with management at the fitness center who told them the locker room attendant on duty had not seen or heard anything suspicious.
“You could see the tool marks on (the locker) where they broke the lock,” Smith said. “There had to have been some noise made popping the lock.”
“It was clearly an inside job. It had to be either the staff or a member,” Smith said.
Watkins said the general manager of the Plano location admitted that this was not the first reported theft to take place in the locker room.
The general manager of the Plano Life Time Fitness was unavailable for comment.
On the same day at the Colleyville Life Time Fitness, a similar theft took place, according to police.
“The general manager and the department head notified us that this was an ongoing problem,” Watkins said. “The previous thefts had involved an employee. They thought they had taken care of it. He later apologized to me saying, ‘We were not adequately staffed to supervise the locker room.’”
Both say Life Time Fitness is unwilling to take responsibility for the thefts.
“We are investigating a similar offense where similar merchandise was taken at a fitness center in Colleyville,” said Officer Rick McDonald, a spokesperson for the Plano Police Department. “Due to the relationship of time between the two offenses, it is feasible that the same individual or individuals could be responsible for these crimes.”
Police declined to comment on whether any of their suspects included employees of Life Time Fitness.
Gordon Yee, general manager of the Colleyville Life Time Fitness, acknowledged the locker room thefts, but declined to comment further.
Kent Wipf, public relations manager for Life Time Fitness, declined to comment on the thefts.
Jason Thunstrom, corporate communications director for Life Time Fitness, also declined to comment on the thefts, but released a statement to The Plano Star Courier indicating that extra security measures had been taken at the Plano fitness club to prevent future theft.
Thunstrom stated that additional employees were placed in the locker room area, signage was posted notifying members of the thefts and a request for an onsite police presence was made to the Plano Police Department.
The letter from management posted next to the sink in the fitness center’s locker room is not the kind of responsible reaction customers were looking for, Smith and Watkins said.
“I would like to be reimbursed for my property and I would like the Plano police to catch this ring of thieves,” Smith said.
On Aug. 1, Texas Attorney General Greg Abott announced the state of Texas would be suing Minnesota-based Life Time Fitness Inc. for exposing its North Texas customers to identity theft.
Investigators with the office of the attorney general found customer’s personal identification information in trash bins behind all six Life Time Fitness locations in the Metroplex, according to Abott.
The information found included customer’s names, addresses, Social Security and driver’s license numbers and debit and credit card information. The names and birth dates of several minors were also found because Life Time Fitness offers child care and youth recreational facilities.
“Bottom line is, Life Time Fitness has put into their dumpsters information that is personal, private that could subject their customers to identity theft,” Abott said at a press conference earlier this month. “This information is a gold mine for identity thieves.”
Under the 2005 Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act, the office of the attorney general can seek up to $50,000 per violation.
In addition, Abott accused Life Time Fitness of lying to customers about the safety of their private information and violating the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
“Life Time Fitness made it clear to their customers that they were going to do all they could to protect the security of their private information,” Abott said. “It turned out that was a falsehood. It turned out that was just a flat lie.”
Each violation of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act is up to a $25,000 fine.
Watkins said the locker room thefts in Plano and Colleyville and the attorney general’s lawsuit should be a wake-up call for all current members of the fitness club.
“I think that there is a pattern of negligence on their part in terms of the safety and welfare of their members,” Watkins said. “Wouldn’t you want to know that your valuables aren’t safe in the locker room? In this age of identity theft, wouldn’t you want to know that you are a potential victim of identity theft?”
He said he has not received anything from Life Time Fitness notifying him that he is the potential victim of identity theft.
Watkins has also asked Life Time Fitness to reimburse him for his stolen property.
Smith said he is considering a lawsuit against the fitness chain.
“I have a 38-year-old wedding ring that can’t be replaced,” Smith said. “That damn wedding band had a lot of sentimental value in it. That is a long time to have it on your finger and then have someone steal it because they think it is valuable.”
Contact Josh Hixson at jhixson@acnpapers.com
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Jim wrote on Aug 25, 2007 2:25 PM:
" This is an easy one: Get a list of ALL the employees at the facilities, do background checks, see which employees have criminal records and then start questioning the "former" criminals. These people were getting low wages to begin with so they "suppliment" their income by stealing! The fitness center can claim to be "not responsible" all they want --- but you go after them for negligence by placing known criminals in sensitive job positions! "
Angel wrote on Aug 25, 2007 4:55 PM:
" I have been a member of many health clubs over the past 15 years and crimes and break-ins at health clubs is common. I strongly suggest not leaving valuables in lockers or cars at the gym. I have seen and heard about too many incidences. I am a member at Life Time and I do not think that it is a reflection of the company or their employees. They have the most professional and friendly staff that I have ever experienced. They also have more cameras throughout the club and parking lot than usual. Cameras are not allowed in locker rooms and thiefs are aware of that. We as members must be responsible and smart. "
Customer of Lifetime Fitness wrote on Aug 25, 2007 11:37 PM:
" What? We haven't been notified by anyone about any of this? That's scary to think these scum are hitting the lockers and Lifetime Fitness is just "declining to comment." What the heck? "
Chris wrote on Aug 28, 2007 4:20 PM:
" First: I do believe that LifeTime Fitness does a background check on all of the employees. Check this point out before you acuse.
Second: Do you people have your head in the sand? What responsible adult takes expensive, sentimental items to a gym????
Do you not see the notices on the walls? Do you not read the papers? Why do some people expect everyone else to be responsible except themselves. You know you are going to be working out. Leave your valuable in your desk at work or in your home. Think this out. You made a mistake and now instead of accepting that you did something foolish, go blame someone else.
File a claim with your insurance company and learn from your mistakes.
"
Scott wrote on Aug 28, 2007 8:47 PM:
" No comment = "We don't care." This is a sure sign to take your business elsewhere. At that time of the day there is a limited number of people in the club. If you can narrow down the timeframe then the cameras located in the main hallway or pool area should tell you who the crooks are. That is, if you really want to find out.
"
shelley wrote on Aug 29, 2007 1:30 PM:
" perhaps i watch too many crime shows but can they not cross check members/employees that go to both clubs (that day in particular)...we all have to check in each time we enter the club i'm a member in colleyville and to be honest i wouldn't travel to plano to work out- even though i could. this would narrow down a list of people who could possibly be working the clubs....that is if they are one and the same person. "
jc wrote on Sep 3, 2007 12:37 AM:
" Most of the employees hired are young and unlikely to even have a criminal history that would be available to the employer. They are just getting started...As far as leaving sensitive information in the trash, they should be sued. We pay good money every month and expect them to treat our info that they "need" like their own. "
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