Vancouver police say thefts from gym lockers on rise

Vancouver police say there has been an uptick in thefts from gym lockers since mid-May.

In two recent thefts, people’s car keys were stolen, and so were their vehicles, Vancouver Police Department said in a Facebook post.

Police spokeswoman Kim Kapp said lockers were targeted at multiple locations in Vancouver.

“The thieves are taking wallets and car keys and are almost immediately going to stores to purchase gift cards,” the post says.

Police believe there are multiple groups of culprits committing the thefts, and they “know what they are doing and what they are looking for.”

The police department encouraged gym patrons to use quality locks on lockers and to not take any unnecessary valuables into the gym. Many of the thefts have happened because people aren’t using locks, police said.

“Not everyone is (at the gym) to get healthy,” police said.