News

Paul La Piazza whose wife Terezia had her brand new Sansung Phone stolen from her Locker at Loddon Valley
advertisement

Couple's fury at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre theft

By Karen Jordan
February 21, 2013

Police are investigating a spate of locker thefts at Loddon Valley Leisure Centre which have left a Lower Earley couple angry and frustrated.

Terezia La Piazza, 36, believes her phone and purse were stolen from her locker at Harpers gym some time before 5.40pm on Sunday, February 10.

She reported the incident to the centre’s managers, but says they are refusing to take responsibility and will not compensate her for her missing possessions.

Mrs La Piazza, from Hornbeam Drive, said: “Because there was no damage to the locker they asked me whether I was sure I had locked it.

“I know I had because you can’t get the key out until you put your pound coin in, and I pinned the key to my trousers.

“I had left my purse and my Samsung phone in my handbag which was later found, with my jumper, upside down in the ladies’ toilet, but my purse and mobile were missing.

“My phone isn’t insured as I’ve never had a problem like this before in the two-and-a-half years I’ve been a member at Harpers.

“I am distraught at losing my phone as it contains all my photos, including ones of my two children.”

Two other locker thefts were reported to the police on the same day.

Mrs La Piazza believes someone entered the changing room and opened her locker to steal the items before re-locking it.

Her husband Paul, 38, who also uses the gym, said: “You can only re-lock the locker by putting the coin in and turning the key. How can this have happened if my wife had the key on her?”

Mr La Piazza claims to have watched the fitness centre’s CCTV footage, saying he saw a man entering the changing rooms at 4.54pm and leaving 10 minutes later.

“He went into the female changing room, walked out and then went into the gents, before going into the gym,” he said.

A police spokesman said: “We have reports of three separate incidents on Sunday, all relating to items taken from lockers at around the same time.

“There were six other locker-related incidents reported last year.

“There have been no arrests so far.”

A Loddon Valley Leisure Centre spokeswoman said they were not aware of the CCTV being viewed.

She added: “We aren’t able to comment on the recent reported locker break-in due to the police investigation.

“We are co-operating with the police to investigate this matter and take security extremely seriously and have increased changing room inspections.

“Unfortunately, we can’t take responsibility for any thefts that occur at the leisure centre and we do display this clearly throughout the changing rooms. We advise users not to lock any valuables in the locker or to keep them on them at all times.”

Anyone with information should call Sgt Mark Smith at Loddon Valley Police station on 101.

| Submit Comments | View Comments (17)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 15 of 17

1 | 2 | Next Page Show 15 | 25 | 50 per page

The spokeswoman is lying as when I arrived at what must have been soon after this happened, both the aggrieved were behind the reception counter with the STAFF (I actually assumed Terezia was an instructor..) and Paul said it was an Asian guy on the CCTV!!!

Kenny_MC
24/02/2013 at 11:24

The spokeswoman is outright lying about the CCTV viewing as when I arrived at what must have been soon after this happened, both the aggrieved were behind the reception counter with the STAFF (I actually assumed Terezia was an instructor..) and Paul said he'd/they'd seen the guy on the CCTV!!!

Kenny_MC
24/02/2013 at 11:24

My original comment was deleted. I'm not sure why. It was supposed to warn people why you should never use a public locker. There's no point explaining why, since the post will be removed again.

So all I can say is don't use public lockers. There is a scam which crooks use. Gyms don't care about it. In fact they don't really care for their members full stop. They just want your money.

choccielab
22/02/2013 at 11:01

Common Cents - I agree that there is always something of value such as car keys that need to be taken to the gym or pool, but this should be kept to the minimum as most people know that the lockers provided aren't 100% safe. We don't know the full story and the only real thing we know is that the lockers weren't forced, so there must have been a key. This could have been a copy as choccielab suggests or a master key or the actual key which the victims had given to someone or had stolen. Either way, I don't think the sports centre can be liable as it would be too easy to put loads of expensive items in a locker and 'claim' they were stolen.

Smiffy, Reading
22/02/2013 at 09:55

Mavdo, I don't think CC was spoeaking to you. I think that some comments have been removed so now her comment seems to be directed towards you when it isn't.

whitespirit
21/02/2013 at 20:59

I look here is the child

outlaw98, reading
21/02/2013 at 18:35

Your a muggy little clown

bilbo bagginh
21/02/2013 at 18:35

I would never leave anything valuable in a public locker. Why take the risk? You don't know who is watching you put stuff in them. I just take the cash that I need. They're not very secure at all.

Speckles
21/02/2013 at 17:35

When I was playing competitive sports and worked out regularly, I always went ready to work out so never needed to change at the gym.

She could have left everything in her car, hidden of course, and just taken her keys and a towel in with her.

After a free phone and a bit of compo maybe?????

The Racing Snake
21/02/2013 at 17:27

@Common Cents - I wasn't being smarta*** at all. The centre provides lockers but clearly states that they are not secure. They are not heavy safes, they are just there to prevent opportunist thieves. Just like hotel rooms, you are recommended not to leave valuables in them, but if you do, it is at your own risk. Nowhere do the centre say those lockers provide ultimate security, and looking at them you really wouldn't need very much to get one open if you really wanted to.

Despite these warnings, she left a mobile in a locker worth a few hundred quid and holding items of sentimental value, along with money, cards, car keys etc, and without any insurance. Her car boot probably provides better security, and is covered by CCTV, but even then the centre wouldn't be responsible for theft.

We all think it won't happen to us, but it could, and it does. I don't have phone insurance either - my choice. I'll buy a new one if it is stolen. I won't expect anyone else to do that for me.

You ask what the alternatives are - well in Harpers in Wokingham there are mini-lockers in the gym that you can put things in free of charge, they are covered by CCTV and they are right by you as you use the equipment. I thought the same was available in Loddon Valley. Turning the phone off may have helped a bit too if it was pin protected on boot-up because then it is mostly useless to anyone else. If you use the swimming pool, you could hand items in to reception to be looked after and then they CAN be held responsible for their loss. They must be able to provide secure storage - if car keys are "valuable", we've got to put them somewhere while we use the pool.

But whatever you do, thefts will happen, and the centre cannot guarantee to prevent all thefts of items that you have left unguarded.

mavdo, Wokingham
21/02/2013 at 16:46

At Loddon Valley its not Ladies changing its unisex, but surely there must be CCTV of someone going in there (probably looking a bit shifty) and leaving soon after without going swimming or using the facilities!?

Martin Cairns
21/02/2013 at 16:40

Run to the Gym, run home again, no issues with parking, no issues with leaving items anywhere, and no over the top bill to pay.

Apocalyptic Horseman, Reading
21/02/2013 at 16:38

Agree with Hugh J but if the woman has viewed the CCTV, can't the police identify the culprit and bring him in?? how come nobody questioned a man being around the women's changing room? if this is a common occurrence at this place, I think people should boycott it and not renew memberships, maybe that way Loddon Valley might actually do something about the problem!

Right to Reply
21/02/2013 at 16:13

I think they should upgrade the actual lockers themselves with a better & more secure key or something. Ultimately, however, if a theif wants to break into something they will figure out a way to do it - and that's what people should always keep in the back of their minds.

This is just the same as parking in a car park and having items stolen from your vehicle right? You can't really hold the car park owner responsible as it's a facility which is being provided for you to use at your own risk.

My wife had her bag stolen from her whilst out shopping recently and it certainly gave her a wake-up call as to backing up her phone etc.

Tom Reading
21/02/2013 at 16:02

I don't agree with mavdo and Smiffy at all.

There might well be signs all over the place citing that the gym aren't liable for personal items in lockers, but I suspect if this was challenged it might well be proved to be an empty statement.

She did what everyone is advised to do; placed her belongings in a secure locker. If that locker is not secure and is being compromised either by employees or by external thieves then the organization providing that storage must be liable. I'm sure they would start screaming 'health and safety' if everyone took their holdalls into the gym with them.

To the two smartar$e posters below; where else do you suggest she keeps her belongings? Why shouldn't she take her phone/purse/car keys to a gym - how else is she expected to pay for parking, drive to the location or deal with emergencies such as potential flat tyres etc if she doesn't have her phone with her?

And breathe!