Don’t be a Victim of Gym Theft

by Lisa Cunningham, Director of Communications

Woodstock and Sandy Springs police said a man and woman stole wallets and keys from gym lockers and then took the victim’s cars. 

One victim who works out at LA Fitness on Eagle Drive in Woodstock said he couldn’t believe his wallet and car keys were gone.  When he went to the gym’s parking lot, his prized Chevy pick up had disappeared. 

 

“It was gone,” said Brian Albrecht.

“I had to look like five times to make sure I wasn’t losing my mind. I couldn’t believe it was gone,” he said.

We wrote about this a few months ago when my husband had $100 stolen from LA Fitness and my daughter had her cell phone stolen from Gold’s Gym.  Don’t be a victim of gym theft. 

Important tips:
1.  Lock your gym lockers
2.  Never leave your keys on a hook – even if it’s behind the desk with the gym manager
3.  Hold onto your locker key or personal keys – put them on a key wrist ban or key necklace
4.  Do not leave your personal belongings such as a gym bag out while you are in the shower

Read more: http://www.gadailynews.com/news/65021-thieves-swipe-wallets-keys-from-la-fitness-gym-lockers.html#ixzz1J7q3amKA

Tips to Protect Yourself from ATM thieves

This is a guest post from Sandy Springs Police Officer Larry Jacobs.

1. Cover your password with your hand.

Hidden cameras are disguised so they can pick up your password. By protecting it, thieves can’t access your account.

2. Use familiar ATMs and limit your visits.

ATMs in dimly-lit spots or those which are used late at night are more susceptible to fraud, while ATMs under video surveillance can be safer. Stay away from ATMs at retail stores or restaurants. Recently, skimming devices were found on ATMs in a popular grocery store in GA.

Airports, convenience stores, or kiosks are equally vulnerable to ATM thieves. Still, even highly-trafficked ATMs outside a bank branch have been targeted by theives.

3. Check bank balances frequently.

Given the two-day window for reporting fraud, it pays to check your account frequently. If you don’t report fraud within 60 days, you have unlimited liability. Sign up for alerts and notice unusual withdrawals.

With credit cards, there are more protections in place, and you can dispute charges.

4. Observe the ATM

Consumers should look at an ATM to make sure a card slot is legitimate and not tacked on. Look for things that strike you. Some people have felt that when they inserted their card, something went awry. In that case, try another ATM.

When protecting your account against ATM thieves, it’s all about awareness, paying attention, and understanding risks. There are 400,000 ATMs and every one of them is susceptible to fraud. The speed and convenience of technology has replaced the security of technology.

Officer Larry Jacobs is a crime prevention and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED) specialist for the Sandy Springs, Georgia police department.

For regular, timely safety tips and updates just like this, be sure to subscribe to our blog.


Switch to our mobile site