Ottawa police warn gym-goers to protect valuables amid series of locker thefts

Police are warning of thefts inside gym locker rooms across Ottawa after several incidents. CTV’s Kimberley Fowler reports.

Locker room thefts are occurring more frequently at gyms across Ottawa and thieves aren’t just taking your stuff, they’re racking up charges on your credit and debit cards.

The Ottawa Police Service is warning these thefts can happen in a matter of minutes.

This week, police released a statement asking for the public’s to identifying a suspect in a credit card theft at a west end recreation centre.

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In June 2024, they also asked for the public’s help in an ongoing investigation to identify five suspects responsible for a series of thefts and frauds in multiple gym locker rooms.

Some victims also alerted CTV News Ottawa but declined going on camera.

Police describe these thefts as ‘crimes of opportunity’ and warn they can happen quickly.

“If people can limit as much as they can what they put in their locker. If they have the misfortune of having that locker being broken into, it becomes less trouble for them to replace the car keys or cancel the credit cards,” said Ottawa police Sgt. Sébastien Lemay.

If your credit card is stolen, police say to contact your financial institution as soon as possible to either cancel it or block it from being used.

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Lemay says having a strong lock to prevent thefts is important.

 “If we take the example of the gym or the city facilities where we have pools and everything else…always bring a strong lock. That’s an investment that shouldn’t be overlooked,” Lemay said.

Police also suggest preventative measures like leaving valuable items in your car or at home while you work out.

“We need to recommend for people to hide the valuables, limit the number of valuables that they bring with them when possible, and to keep them out of sight,” Lemay said.

Mackenzie Trudgen is a gym member at Movati and takes everything with her when she works out.

“I, myself, am a very paranoid person and I’ve had my fair share of theft. I leave the house pretty early in the morning and I don’t get back home until very late at night, so I bring pretty much all of my belongings with me,” she said.

Others like Sophia Popovych choose not to use locks.

“I don’t use (lockers)... I honestly don’t bring anything expensive and valuable here. My AirPods and my phone are always with me,” she said.