LA Fitness: Where Safety Comes Last

[DoubleActionCHL]

I'm sure this isn't news to some of you, but fitness clubs are among some of the more dangerous places we hang out. Ironically, most people are oblivious to the danger and feel relatively safe while working out.

I was recently at the LA Fitness near my home in Spring on a Sunday evening. When I parked, I stood in the parking lot for a moment and observed a young, skinny Asian man walking along the rows of cars, slowing to look down between cars as he passed. When he saw me watching, he quickened his pace and walked into the gym.

When I exited the gym an hour later, I noticed that someone had punched the lock on my truck and stolen two magazines of ammo, a checkbook, my toolbag, my PDA and a portable gun safe (empty) that was attached with a cable lock (the guys had bolt cutters). Precinct 4 showed up in about 10 minutes (WOW!) and told me that they respond to a vehicle break-in about every other night. Odd, considering LA Fitness staff told me they had only one break-in in the past six months. The officer also said they frequently respond to reported locker break-ins, as well.

LA Fitness' response? It's not their problem. They tell you not to leave valuables in your car or locker. They provide no security or video surveillance of any kind, and have no intentions of providing any, nor do they make their patrons aware of the dangers.

The gym is a prime target for criminals, because they know that when you enter the gym, you'll be in there for at least 30 minutes and your vehicle is all theirs.

I have serious issues with an organization that takes no steps to provide for the safety or security of its patrons, nor does it take responsibility when these things happen. The criminals are brazen enough to jack cars in broad daylight. In my opinion, they're only inches away from assaults, rapes and kidnappings. The situation is an accident waiting to happen. You can sit in the parking lot and watch throngs of oblivious young girls leaving the gym with their cell phone glued to their ear. The last thing on their mind is personal safety.

Crime escalates when unchecked. LA Fitness, in the interest of making money, sees to it that this crime remains unchecked. To provide security would cost money. To inform their customers would cost them business. Most of you know that I'm a huge advocate of personal protection, and I do believe that we are all ultimately responsible for our own safety. However, I do believe businesses have a responsibility to provide a reasonable level of security for their patrons. LA Fitness fails miserably.

Bottom line: If you attend one of these big cookie-cutter gyms, don't leave valuables in your car (certainly not in plain view) OR your locker. If you're carrying, you'll need a VERY secure method of locking away your firearm, because the thieves carry tools.

Have any of you had similar experiences with LA Fitness or other McGyms?

[seamusTX]

Write to one of the Houston TV stations. They love this kind of thing.

- Jim

[agbullet2k1]

Write to one of the Houston TV stations. They love this kind of thing.

- Jim

"Consumer alert" and "Channel __, on your side" stories are instant ratings grabbers. If there are police reports to back the claim of "every other night," I'd mention those to the station, too. Who knows, we might see you on TV soon.

[Venus Pax]

My pastors wife had her purse stolen in a smash & grab at the gym we use. Later, she dealt with an identity theft problem that we believe was the result of this.
I take my goodies with me.

[oilman]

I take my goodies with me.

[Glock 23]

not to mention, this chain (from what I have seen) is a very "yuppie-based" gym. Most of them drive decent and newer vehicles with all the gadgets in them like the PDA's/smartphones, GPS, DVD players, etc. Almost guranteed to get something profitable busting into one of these vehicles.

[Ninjaneer]

I am also a member of LA Fitness (but at another Houston location). They have also put up small bulletins around the front desk to lock up vehicles / dont leave valuables in vehicle signs lately at our location as well. They also recently failed some fire alarm code recently and for a couple a days had a big red sign posted from the fire marshall that smoke alarms/sprinklers weren't up to snuff.

I've had generally so-so service from them, and might drop them in the future. They seem to be very "outsource/contract" oriented. The personal training staff is outsourced from another company which has additional crazy rates for training. The "juice bar" is non functional, they need someone to franchise/outsource the juice/snack bar area they built to run it. Of course there is a popular smoothie place in the shopping center nearby, so that juice bar aint happening any time soon.

I am always on full alert when I get there and when I leave.

[dukesean]

The gym is a prime target for criminals, because they know that when you enter the gym, you'll be in there for at least 30 minutes and your vehicle is all theirs.

Movie theaters are even worse, since they know you'll be in there for a good 2 hours.

[propellerhead]

...and a portable gun safe (empty) that was attached with a cable lock (the guys had bolt cutters).

This is why I've never been a fan of car safes. It seems to just say, "Take me too!"

[DoubleJ]

...and a portable gun safe (empty) that was attached with a cable lock (the guys had bolt cutters).

This is why I've never been a fan of car safes. It seems to just say, "Take me too!"

sure, unless you bolt it in. kinda the same premise as a safe in your house.

[charlie]

We have the same problem at the YMCA fitness center in Pearland. It's 30.06 posted, so you can't take your gun inside and lock it in your locker.

Problem started several years ago.

[Dan20703]

We have the same problem at the YMCA fitness center in Pearland. It's 30.06 posted, so you can't take your gun inside and lock it in your locker.

Problem started several years ago.

Same with the YMCA here in Katy. At least they put a guard in the parking lot that seems to actually do a decent job of keeping a watch over things. I still wait to get a parking spot near the window of the weight room I use.

[starrbuck]

Don't blame LA Fitness. This can happen anywhere. It's a dangerous world.

[03Lightningrocks]

In the past two years, it has happened to me once (in my own driveway for petes sake) and my son twice. We were told by Austin PD(where he lives) that the reason for all the car break in type crime is that the Texas legislature reduced penalties for these type crimes to alleviate jail overcrowding. He said that even if they catch them, this crime will get the equivalent of a slap on the wrist. He said he has seen many a perp for burglary of vehicles heading home from the police station before he had finished all the paperwork. It's only going to get worse. The night my truck was broken into, five other vehicles within 150 feet of mine were also broke into. The police would not even take finger prints. They seemed to be in a hurry to get to Duncan Donuts. I felt real bad about ruining their day. All kidding aside, after mentioning that this had to have happened after 3am, as that was when I got home that night, one of the officers ask me if I saw anything. I told them no, I was so drunk when I parked the truck, I wasn't even sure I was in the right driveway. That gave them a chuckle. I have been tempted to leave my wallet on the dash board for chum and hide in the bushes with my AK. But as we all know, hunting over bait is not really fair. We have to get them on their feeding trails.

[agbullet2k1]

In the past two years, it has happened to me once (in my own driveway for petes sake) and my son twice. We were told by Austin PD(where he lives) that the reason for all the car break in type crime is that the Texas legislature reduced penalties for these type crimes to alleviate jail overcrowding. He said that even if they catch them, this crime will get the equivalent of a slap on the wrist.

That's why I always leave my Federal badge in the car shuffled in with papers. Technically, if they take it without knowing, the FBI gets involved, and they get a nice federal prison to sit in for a while.