CHICAGO (CBS) — A thief recently stole a woman’s purse from a gym near Lincoln Park, then used her keys to steal her car and break into her home.
The theft occurred at the popular Lakeshore Sport & Fitness, which has been in business since 1972 at 1320 W. Fullerton Ave. – and that The Encyclopedia of Chicago was redeveloped into a “country club in the city” with a swimming pool, weight training facility, spa clinic, tennis and squash courts, and restaurants after the first building collapsed during the Blizzard of 1979.
It is an old and familiar place for many, and therefore a place where many feel comfortable and safe from such crimes.
There are also cameras on the outside of the private athletics club’s building, but athletics club staff say criminals know there are no cameras in the locker rooms for privacy reasons. This creates the opportunity to go unnoticed.
Lakeshore Sport & Fitness said a member’s bag was stolen from the pool deck last week. Her keys were used to steal her car in the parking lot and break into a house.
Nicole Pamphilis coaches tennis at the club.
“I mean, I’ve always felt very safe here,” Pamphilis said. “Even when I’m in the locker room, I usually don’t put a lock on.”
Police said the 37-year-old victim reported the theft around 6:20 a.m. on Wednesday, April 10.
In a letter to members about the incident, Lakeshore Sport & Fitness staff wrote, in part: “[H]Ethics clubs across the country, especially in affluent neighborhoods, are currently a target for criminals. This happens because of the comfort of a private club.”
“It makes me sad that that happened to that lady just because, you know, they have a good check-in at the door,” Pamphilis said.
“Certainly in Chicago there have been a number of similar incidents recently,” Ald added. Brian Hopkins (2nd).
Despite the cameras and secure entrances, Hopkins says the criminals responsible for such crimes know what they are doing.
“We have evidence to suggest that the people who choose this type of crime are deliberately trying to engage in it,” he said. “They’re wearing gym clothes. They’re trying to look like a member. They’re not trying to attract attention.”
The club urged members to lock their belongings and not leave valuables in the car.
“If I ever use a locker from now on, I will definitely use a lock,” Pamphilis said.
As of Friday evening, no arrests had been made in the theft. But Ald. Hopkins said the stolen car was recovered and examined for any evidence left behind.
Charlie de Mar
