Madison health club goers routinely lock up their valuables and head for the cardio room, but a recent string of locker room thefts across southern Wisconsin has raised the heart rates of even the most physically fit.
Madison Police Department Public Information Officer Mike Hanson said in a press release Wednesday that police are investigating a pattern of recent thefts at Madison and Milwaukee area health clubs, which investigators believe are connected.
The suspects are two adult black females, in their early 20's, both of medium height and have been successful in slipping past front desk clerks with bolt cutters and entering locker rooms, Hanson wrote in the release.
""It's always the same suspect ... wearing a pink parka,"" Hanson said.
The release detailed ways in which the thefts are allegedly committed.
After the female suspects pass through desk staff, a crowd of black male teenagers distracts the clerks with requests, such as asking to borrow a basketball.
Once inside the locker room, the suspects cut locks, bust open lockers and steal personal property within. Common objects stolen included purses, wallets, car keys, cell phones and credit cards.
Often after car keys are taken, the suspects use the rear exit to the parking lot to locate the car to steal valuables or the car itself.
The case extends beyond just material goods. The suspects supposedly take credit and ATM cards and then call the unassuming victims and claim to be ""bank employees.""
The suspects say there is a current fraud situation with the victim's identity and the only way to stop the fraud is to close the accounts. The only way to close the account is to give ""the bank employees"" their PIN number, the suspects claim.
After the PIN number is taken from the victims, the suspects purchase items via the Internet and make ATM withdrawals. Unfortunately, victims do not close their accounts until days later when they finally realize there is a problem.
The victims think the situation is taken care of because they spoke to the bank employee and often never think as to how the bank employees knew they were at the health club.
The suspects are very mobile and trails of fraudulent withdrawals and purchases suggest that they leave town quickly after the thefts. Similar descriptions of these suspects have been reported in Kentucky and neighboring states.
At this time, the MPD said it is not sure what other police forces will be involved and did not release the health clubs involved. However, police said it is possible the FBI will investigate these criminals.
Joe Wirkus, owner of Supreme Fitness, 5555 Odana Rd., said his members are not yet aware of the recent thefts. He said, however, it is unlikely that such an incident could thoroughly play out at his health club.
""It's not like we know every member, but we know a lot of them. I think our members know a lot of other members so I think it would be a little harder for somebody... to just be cutting off locks and no one get wind of it,"" Wirkus said.
Other surrounding area health clubs, such as Capitol Fitness, have cameras throughout their parking lots, front entry areas and gym areas to ensure the security of members and their belongings.
