Identity Theft at The Gym – A 2-inch Lock Can’t Protect Your Life

When you’re walking down a busy street, you keep your wallet close in either your pocket or a handbag. But what happens when you’re somewhere where it has to go out of your sight: like a ski lodge, a spa or a gym? Most people stick their personal items in a locker secured with a combination or key lock. However, a recent identity theft case proves that this may not be enough.

A while ago, a husband and wife team were arrested in Sacramento County, California, for allegedly stealing over 40 people’s personal information from their gym lockers at 24 Hour Fitness. The couple took not only drivers’ licenses, but credit cards, keys and even gym membership cards.

Of course, it is easy to tell you’ve been victimized if you walk into the locker room and your purse is missing and your lock is on the floor. But some thieves are smarter than that. Instead of physically taking your cards, they make rubbings to transfer the names and numbers to other sheets of paper or simply write them down. Another problem is that even if you cancel a photo ID, the old one is still out there and able to be used. The only way to tell it isn’t valid is by scanning it electronically.

What’s the best way to handle this? Don’t depend on a 2” lock to protect your sensitive belongings. Sure, it’s fine for clothes, unless it’s a $2,000 pair of tennis shoes or a pair of Seven jeans, which really have no place at the gym. But leave the credit cards, driver’s license, car keys and other likely targets behind the counter where employees can keep an eye on them. People are much less inclined to take something that is under a watched eye than to simply swipe it from a locker.

If you want to be even more secure, leave these items at home or at least lock them up in your car before you enter the establishment. (Well, with the exception of your keys, of course.) Hide them under the seat or in the trunk so they are not in full view. That way there is no temptation, or expectation for that matter.

If you don’t want to deal with all this hassle and think you’ll just stuff your wallet in the gym locker anyway, an identity theft protection plan may be the way you want to go. With such a plan, you can be alerted right away if a thief starts using your ID or account numbers to assume your identity for personal or financial gain.

Also, if you notice your locker has been broken into, cancel all the cards and get new ones, even if they don’t appear to have been tampered with. Think about it: why would a thief break your lock or jimmy the door if his or her intent was not to take anything? On a final note, whatever you do, don’t leave anything with your Social Security number on it in a locker, ever. Not your Social Security card, not your passport. Nothing, nothing, nothing.