New Haven Independent

Police said the pair, two women in their early 20s, have run some version of that electronics-age heist in seven communities over the past month.

Gyms in Branford, East Haven, Fairfield, Hamden, Orange, Stratford and Trumbull have been hit. The settings have been Planet Fitness, LA Fitness and Fitness Edge, though the gym itself is not the specific target of the crime.

“It is a place of opportunity,” Branford Police Chief John DeCarlo said.

In the last month police from the seven communities have investigated ten thefts, all following a similar pattern. The two women are not members of the gyms. The police are cooperating with each other, according to Lt. Arthur J. Kohloff, who heads the Branford inquiry.

The crime has changed the way people think about their gym routine, and everyone has a gym routine. Mike Katz, Jr., an owner of the Branford Planet Fitness, said between 45,000 to 50,000 clients come through his doors each month. “For the most part, there is little concern. We have very few problems. But one is too many for us. If we can prevent it we will. We are proactive about this.”

“People are very trusting. This is Branford. And they come to the gym and they think nothing will happen,” he said, adding that people are creatures of habit. What they now have to do is change their habits.

“We have taken our key racks down,” because that could be problem, even though they have been there for years, Katz said. Planet Fitness is also asking clients to bring a lock and put their valuables in a gym locker or carry their keys with them while they work out.

“We are telling our clients not to leave pocketbooks in their cars. And if they want to put a purse in the trunk, we tell them not to open the trunk in full view in the parking lot.”

Lt. Kohloff (left) is investigating two thefts that occurred on Wednesdays at Planet Fitness, one on March 3 and one on March 12. Each took place between 2 and 3 p.m.

Here is how the crime went down on March 3:

One suspect, about 22, swiped what police believe is a stolen gym card and made her way to the women’s locker room in the back of the gym. She wore a backpack and easily fit in. In the locker room she found a coat rack that typically holds a half-dozen winter jackets. She opened the pocket of one or two jackets and removed the remote, but left the car keys. Then she left the gym, found the car and stole the purse. A second woman, also about 22, picked her up in a rental car.

They headed for the Stop & Shop, a few minutes away, located off exit 56 on I-95.

Speed is important, because once the victim realizes her purse and credit cards are missing and reports it, the card is automatically cancelled.

Once at the Stop & Shop, the pair bought between $300 and $400 worth of gift cards. The purchases took place at 2:12 and 2:14 p.m. They left the store, now able to resell the gift cards. They also used one of the stolen credit cards to purchase gas.

Lt. Kohloff said that “the second time this happened, on March 12, the Stop & Shop manager recognized the girls, and he wouldn’t let them buy the gift cards. He ran outside and got a partial CT plate, which we later found out was 791TXN, a plate that belongs to a rental car.”

One of the victims told the Eagle that her purse later turned up in Bridgeport. “Everything was intact,” she said. “The only thing missing were two credit cards and my make-up.”

She said she was still upset by the event. But at least the thieves left her keys, enabling her to drive home. Katz helped her through the ordeal, she said. So did the police. She was glad to hear that security had been beefed up at the gym.

Meanwhile, the women are still out there, and the police continue to develop leads. They now believe that one woman is from Orange and the other recently moved to Hamden. They believe that each has a long criminal record and that they are drug addicts.

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