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Police are looking for suspects who took people's keys while they worked out at local gyms

Posted at 6:19 PM, Sep 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-21 18:19:58-04

TAMPA, Fla. — Detectives with the Tampa Police Department are looking for a suspect who they say got into people’s cars outside a gym.

According to detectives, the person took a set of keys from the key rack at the Crunch Fitness located on Dale Mabry then walked to the car and unlocked it. 

Tim Hutchinson is one of the victim’s, he said the crook got away with his license and a company credit card. Detectives said the crook then used the card at a Walmart to purchase a $200 gift card.

“I just can’t believe the audacity of somebody. I mean that’s pretty bold,” Hutchinson said.

Detectives said one another day, the crook went back to the same gym and grabbed another set of keys.

“(It’s) very frustrating when I go to the same gym a week later and find out I just missed him,” Hutchinson said.

Authorities said there was a third incident, but at another gym location. According to authorities, someone did the same thing at a different Crunch Fitness this one is located along Hillsborough Avenue. Detectives are not sure if it is related to the other two incidents at the other gym.

“I think that it’s actually fairly common that you see people just drop their keys into a little cabbie hole or maybe hook them up on a little rack. Apparently, that’s not safe enough,” Steve Hegarty, a Public Safety Information Coordinator with TPD, said.

Hegarty said they wanted to alert people about the trend.

“We want to get the word out to people that you need to be just a little more careful,” Hegarty said.

ABC Action News reached out to Crunch Fitness. A spokesperson released a statement that read, “At Crunch gyms, the safety and security of our members is always our top priority. This is the first incident that was brought to our attention and we will be changing our key policy immediately.”