Luxury Gyms Under Siege from Professional Thieves Targeting Valuables
Premium fitness clubs charging up to £300 per month should offer a secure, exclusive environment for their members. However, a disturbing trend has emerged across Britain, with upmarket gyms becoming hunting grounds for brazen, professional thieves. These calculated criminals are infiltrating high-end facilities, targeting lockers and vanishing with valuable items, leaving members out of pocket and deeply concerned about the safety of these supposedly premium spaces.
Influencer's Bespoke Necklace Stolen in High-Profile Incident
Reports of thefts range from luxury watches to sentimental jewellery, with culprits seemingly capable of cracking locker codes. In a widely publicised case, influencer KT Franklin revealed in January that her bespoke gold cross necklace, crafted by a jeweller in the United States, was stolen from a locker at Third Space gym in Wimbledon. Sharing the ordeal with her 3.1 million TikTok followers, Ms Franklin expressed her distress, stating, "Someone stole my necklace, and I am not over it - I literally can't stop thinking about it."
She explained that the custom-made piece was taken from a locker she was using while her back was turned for "two seconds." Ms Franklin issued a stark warning to her viewers: "There are thieves at that gym, Third Space in Wimbledon - please, please, please be careful." Just two months later, Third Space has issued a similar alert to members, urging increased vigilance when using lockers.
Police Warn of Organised Crime Targeting Luxury Venues
In an official statement, Third Space relayed concerns from the Metropolitan Police that "professional thieves are targeting luxury gyms, hotels and clubs across London." This warning echoes a similar alert posted on Facebook last December, where an anonymous member warned gym-goers about thefts at a Virgin Active Wimbledon location. The post read: "Heads up that thief(thieves) are active again at Virgin Wimbledon - just came from there and at least one credit card stolen from locked locker - was only left unattended for 15 minutes. This isn't the first time but be super vigilant if you are a member."
Dentist Loses £18,000 Rolex at David Lloyd Club
This security issue extends beyond isolated incidents, affecting multiple high-end fitness chains including David Lloyd Clubs, despite their substantial membership fees. At Third Space, monthly membership can reach £285 for groups and £245 for individuals, while David Lloyd fees range from £70 to £350 per month. Among the victims is Dr Amir Savage, a 55-year-old dentist from Winchester, who fell prey to a calculated theft at David Lloyd Farnham, where his membership cost £214 monthly.
Dr Savage's £18,000 limited-edition Rolex "Pepsi" model was taken from his locker while he relaxed in the sauna. He had arrived early at the gym on February 3, placing his belongings in a locker secured with a combination padlock supplied by the club. When he returned to change, the watch had vanished without trace. Speaking to the Daily Mail, Dr Savage described his disbelief: "I did a double-take and checked everything to make sure the watch was really gone."
After confirming the theft, he reported it to the duty manager, who "wrote everything down, but it just seemed as though this was a normal occurrence for them." Dr Savage later reported the incident to Surrey Police, with CCTV footage provided for investigation. Although the timepiece was insured, Dr Savage emphasised that the loss extends beyond financial value, stating, "It is a case of this should have been prevented by the gym. You don't expect to go to a gym, put your wallet, your credit cards, and your watch in a locker, and with a lock that's supplied by the company, only for it to be picked."
He added, "I feel extremely stupid and foolish for actually bringing the watch into the gym, but having said that, I do want something good to come out of it, to warn other people about it, and to try and see if I can affect some change within David Lloyd. Going forward, I'm not going to bring anything of value at all to any gym, because it's just not worth that risk."
Gym Chains Respond with Security Recommendations
A spokesperson for David Lloyd Clubs expressed regret about the incident, confirming they were in "regular contact" with Dr Savage. They stated: "We have worked with the police to help identify the individual involved, providing all the information we have and offering CCTV to support their enquiries. We always work closely with both members and the police and take a proactive approach where we are aware of any incidents, supporting investigations and taking appropriate action to protect our clubs."
Third Space has reminded members that these thieves are "determined and professional," advising them to utilise valuable lockers located in concierge areas covered by CCTV. The chain emphasised: "The safest place for any valuable items, and specifically valuable watches, whilst in the club is either on your person, or stored in the valuable lockers. These valuable lockers are located in the concierge areas and are covered by CCTV. Our changing rooms are not covered by CCTV for obvious reasons, and no valuable items should be left in lockers located there."
Organised Criminal Networks Behind Multiple Incidents
In January, Third Space also warned users not to reuse PIN codes for lockers and bank cards after a prolific thief targeted multiple sites across London. This alert followed the sentencing of Dean Murphy, 35, who received a two-year jail term after admitting three counts of theft and eleven counts of fraud by false representation. Murphy stole £500 after watching a man enter his locker code at a Third Space gym, then attempted to spend £5,400 at an Apple Store by posing as his victim. He additionally used stolen bank cards to withdraw £1,750 from a cash machine and spent £92.06 at Zara.
Some criminals operate in pairs, as demonstrated by the case of couple Ashley Singh and Sophie Bruyea, who worked together to target eighteen victims last year. Breaking into lockers while gym-goers exercised, they stole bank cards and phones, taking a staggering £250,000 from lockers across London. This funded luxury trips to Dubai, Paris, and the Amalfi Coast, with Bruyea flaunting their lifestyle on social media.
One victim, Alina Timofeeva, reported the pair spent £10,000 using her card at Harrods and the Apple Store in Covent Garden. Another, Aseel Mirza, 54, had her wallet, phone, headphones, and house keys stolen at a Virgin Active gym before the thieves took a taxi to Westfield London in Shepherd's Bush and spent £1,400 in transactions. Despite victims reporting these crimes, some cases were closed due to insufficient evidence, even though Singh had previously served half of a six-and-a-half-year sentence for similar offences before his 2021 release.
Both Singh and Bruyea have since received further sentences: Singh jailed for three years, while Bruyea received a 20-month sentence suspended for two years, alongside a rehabilitation programme and 120 hours of unpaid work. Virgin Active and Third Space have been contacted for additional comment regarding these ongoing security concerns at luxury fitness establishments.
