Police across the region are looking for anyone who might be able to identify a locker thief who has been hitting local gyms, but not for a new year’s resolution.
Edmonton police have investigated a rash of thefts at city swimming pools, gyms and other fitness facilities where the thief breaks locks in the change rooms and steals small items.
The thief typically takes items like wallets, and on several occasions, has used stolen credit cards to make large purchases at retail stores like Future Shop and London Drugs.
Edmonton police believe the thief is also responsible for break-ins in St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Beaumont and Red Deer.
Patrycia Thenu, with the Edmonton Police Service said these types of thefts are not rare, but in this instance they believe one suspect is responsible for a wide array of thefts totalling thousands of dollars.
“The number of incidents, the amount of the thefts and the area that he targets warrant special attention.”
Cpl. Laurel Kading with the St. Albert RCMP said there has been a rash of thefts at Servus Credit Union Place unrelated to this individual. Officers have been working with staff there to make it safer, she said.
Kading said many locks have been broken off at Servus Place, but in other instances items have been left unlocked. Police strongly encourage the public to lock up all items.
“We don’t need to make it any easier than it already is.”
The suspect is a white male, approximately five-foot-10 and 180 pounds. Security video released by the Edmonton police show him wearing a black ball cap with a white logo and sunglasses over top. He was also wearing white sneakers and a red and black winter jacket.
Anyone with any information can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
