A BBC Radio 4 investigation has uncovered a serial thief preying on women in London gyms, stealing phones and bank cards to drain accounts. Journalist Shari Vahl from the You and Yours programme found multiple victims with near-identical experiences, losing thousands of pounds each.
The thief targets female gym-goers, stealing belongings from lockers in popular chains like Virgin Active, GymBox, and PureGym. Within minutes, the perpetrator uses the stolen phone to register the bank card on a new device, intercepting the one-time security code sent via text message. This allows them to make high-value purchases at luxury stores such as Harrods, Selfridges, and Apple, as well as withdrawing cash and ordering fast food.
Victims include Alina, who lost £10,000 from a Virgin gym in Finchley Road; Harriet, who had £7,500 stolen from GymBox; and Charlotte, who lost £8,000 after a gym session in Chiswick. The Met Police had previously closed individual investigations but are now reviewing the linked cases.
Security expert Mike Salt notes that gym locker rooms lack CCTV due to privacy concerns, making them vulnerable. The thief likely holds a gym membership to access multiple locations without suspicion. To prevent such theft, Vahl advises never leaving phones and cards together, and adjusting phone settings to hide message previews on the lock screen.
