06:24 > Thursday 12th November 2009
St Albans & Harpenden News from The Herts Advertiser
Locker theft man loses car as well
09 September 2004
A MAN who suffered a double blow when his gym locker was broken into is warning people not to keep their property in the changing rooms.
Liam Foley, aged 38, of Townsend Road, Harpenden, returned from an evening yoga class to discover that his locker at Harpers in Rothamsted Park had been forced open and his wallet and car keys were missing. The thief had driven off in his Ford Cougar from the car park outside the gym. Mr Foley had to cancel all his bank and credit cards and had to have his house locks changed at 1am by a 24-hour locksmith. He had used the £1 coin deposit system on the changing-room lockers. He said: "People have got to learn not to use those lockers. I would warn people to only use the ones in the gym itself or to take their stuff into the classes with them."
The theft happened between 8.30pm and 9.30pm on Tuesday night last week during the time of the yoga class. Mr Foley called the police and while he was waiting he was afraid that the thief could get into his home but he was able to alert his neighbour, who had a spare house key, and asked him to watch the house.
Mr Foley is now waiting to see what his car insurers will do but said he had been told by police it was unlikely he would get it back.
Phil Steele, contract manager for Leisure Connection, which runs Harpers, said: "We take a weakness in security very seriously, and don't generally feel there is a huge security problem. The police are happy to vouch for the standard of service we have provided on this occasion and have said there is not much more we can do on the security front.
"A crime-prevention team has visited and we are very happy to take on board any advice they have.
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