By Esther Lauaki
A paramedic has lost thousands of dollars of medical equipment after his car was one of three stolen from outside a Tarneit gym over the recent long weekend.
Police are investigating the three thefts, two which occured on Sunday, March 8 and the other on Monday, March 9 outside Anytime Fitness at Tarneit Central.
The 33-year-old patient transport carer, who asked not to be named, said he parked his 2011 Toyota Rukus at the gym on March 8 after 10am – by noon it was gone.
“I went to my bag and found that my bag had been moved from the cubby,” he told Star Weekly.
“When I looked for my keys in the bag they were gone.
“I ran through the carpark to where my car was and it had been stolen.”
He said his vehicle contained some medical equipment, golf clubs and a number of personal items.
The incident follows a spate of vehicle thefts across Wyndham, particularly in Tarneit, in recent weeks.
Police last month warned youths are sneaking into gyms using stolen access dongles or by tailgating members before raiding unattended gym bags for car keys, wallets and phones.
Five cars were stolen from Anytime Fitness gyms in Point Cook, Werribee and Tarneit and another from Jetts gym in Tarneit over a week in late February.
Superintendent Therese Fitzgerald said the emerging crime trend was concerning and warned gym-goers to be careful with their possessions.
“Police across Melbourne are responding to a recent trend of thieves targeting fitness centres and gyms,” Superintendent Fitzgerald said.
“Often, this leads to vehicle theft and further crimes such as petrol drive-offs and burglaries being committed.
“The offending is opportunistic in nature, with groups of youths entering gyms via a range of means such as stolen access dongles, tailgating customers through entry points, or posing as gym members who’ve forgotten their access cards.”
An Anytime Fitness spokesman said it was co-operating with police to find the stolen cars and firm up internal security measures.
