Sarah and Adam Baley have worked out at the West Suburban YMCA for more than 10 years, but their time as members has likely come to an end out of concern for ongoing thefts.
Their car was stolen from the parking lot last week after Adam accidentally dropped his keys in the facility, 2420 N. 124th St. That comes three years after two wallets were stolen from his locker and the credit cards were maxed out.
The Baleys got their vehicle back, albeit in a damaged state with items missing. But they have lost their feeling of security at the Y branch.
"It's just a total violation, we can't even imagine going back there," Sarah Baley said. "I don't want to be a member of a place where when someone finds keys on the floor they go and steal your car. You expect people to turn them in."
Thefts, with or without keys
Others have seen how easy access to keys results in theft. In some incidents, members left their keys on a towel while swimming or showering or they threw their key to the sidelines of the basketball court. Signs posted around the facility warn people to keep their keys on them at all times.
But that hasn't prevented some thefts either.
Baley said his locker key was pinned to his shorts both times his wallet was taken.
Robert Shea, who goes to the Y six days a week, said he always attaches his locker key to a chain around his neck. Despite that, one day he discovered his cash and credit card - which was later used to buy athletic shoes and lunch at Popeyes - were taken from his locker.
"The theft at the Y is to a point where it is very disturbing," he said.
Reporting thefts to police
Wauwatosa Police Department received 24 calls for theft in 2009 and 17 so far for 2010 at the YMCA. Those numbers only account for thefts that occurred in the building.
Matt Mitchell, vice president of center operations, said the facility has seen a decrease in the number of thefts, with six occurring this summer.
"Thefts started to decline significantly when we reinforced personal responsibility to members and their locker keys," he said.
If a theft is reported to Y staff, workers will ask the member if they want to call the police.
"Since it is their personal property, they must file the report," Mitchell said. "We will call the police and be available to answer any questions."
Internal security
Cameras around the building track everyone who comes in and out of the building and monitors heavy traffic areas. Locker room sweeps check for suspicious activity. Additional staff has been added to the check-in desk to keep an eye on activity, Mitchell said.
But Baley and Shea said people can easily walk past the front desk when the facility gets busy. The local Y boasts 20,900 members and almost 65,000 visits. If the front desk clerks are taking care of laundry, the keys are easily accessible.
"They ought to move the keys back to the back wall," Shea said.
He suggested issuing combination locks, which management is considering.
"We are looking to move in this direction at all centers," Mitchell said of the idea. "However, it is a move toward member convenience, not for (security) reasons."
Baley likened the environment at the local Y to past problems at Mayfair Mall prior to the Parental Guidance Required program. Kids ages 10 and younger are required to have parental supervision while at the Y.
What they're taking
Recent thefts at the YMCA include:
• A wallet and cell phone taken from the pool area July 15.
• A wallet and smart phone taken from a locker July 26. A key had been removed from the member's towel.
• A 1999 Honda Accord taken from the parking lot Aug. 16.
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16 COMMENTS
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Welcome to --------------- - http://www.newgoing.com
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Welcome to --------------- - http://www.newgoing.com
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Hello! The burning hot summer arrived, this is the demonstration stature
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jkey, you missed the point completely regarding the duplicate key situation. The thieves size up an individual and observe the locker they use each time they come to the Y. After the individual leaves and turns in the key, the theives go to the key counter and ask for that locker. They than take the key out the door and make a copy. They return to the Y and return the key as if they completed their workout. The next time the victim comes to the Y they use the duplicate key to raid his locker when he goes to the pool or to workout . This is exactly how the got the cash from 2 individuals for 280 and 400 dollars respectfully. The people who got hit had the Y key on them personally when the theft took place. We need more security and combo locks put in place as soon as possible. Please tell your friend Mitchell o do something to earn his paycheck.
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Actually im not working with anyone as I am longstanding member of the Y for over 20 years. Sounds like to me jakeob you are the typical person who does not want to take ownership of being a complete moron by putting a key on a towel in the first place? If you put your key on a towel and throw it in a bin then you need to own the fact you misplaced your key! It is not right people steal, wait for people, etc. But the fact remains you cannot blame the enitre organization for someone being forgetful? Now, moving on back to my original point of "certain people" waiting, coming on buslines, is implying racism and to think if you change your zip code all will be well umm no I dont think so! Trust me, I have had issues with staff at the Y and members, but at the end of the day the Y is a good place when you take into account of 20,000 members alone at this facility and factor in the amount of thefts yearly I would say it is quite safe! Should people move from LaCrosse since a homicided just happened umm no, should you change you view on everyone person at this Y because some people choose to take advantage of others no, should you own the fact that if you dont take you key with you at all times and misplace it in laundry that it is lost yes! Well, if you dont like the outcome the fact does remain you cant make a duplicate of a key that is never in your possesion in the first place right, right so jakeob do me a favor and get it together before you assume I am am employee of the Y! Im just a person that believes in respect, honesty, and owning ones fault I think that happens when your a adult. It better your not a member of the Y as I dont think this christian facility needs judgemental and people like you stating their opinion as if facts that are really at the end of the day so far from the truth it is laughable at best! Jakeob you have yourself a good no great holiday weekend you hear! Thanks!
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Sounds like jkey is working hand in hand with Mr. Mitchell who is all for convenience and the hell with security. People are being ripped off by thieves who watch certain individuals who could carry wallets with money and credit cards. They than check out the locker when this individual leaves and take the key out to duplicate at any place that makes keys. The next time that person returns to the Y they wait for him to change into gym clothes and than raid the locker he left and remove his valuables. this doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure it out. Get it out of your mind that all of the thefts are being committed by negligence on the Y member not watching his key or by a Y employee. These are thieves who are making a practice to hit the people who they think have valuables on them. Come on Mr. Mitchell, start with security at the entrance and than change all lockers to combination locks. Do your job and quit blaming the honest membership.
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Realize when you are point a finger people there is always three pointing back at you! Yes, like other branches and other gyms this one has challenges too! The easiest part of anything in life is to identify problems because we are humans and we are not perfect and will never be! The hard part is offering solutions and or different measures of how we can improve this branch along with all of the branches in the city! If you want to make things better you have to work together and find out what the real issues are....bottomline wherever you have people you will have good and the bad, but most people are good and not bad so with that being said I am glad I read this article I hope some of you learn that no matter where you come from it does not make you what makes you is your choices in life and again no matter where you live, what kind of car you do and or dont drive does not mean you wont be surrounded at some point by people who are simply no good! The Y is an outlet for most people and for those that it is not it is a shame, but that will happen at times! The real issues that need to be addressed and solutions are how can we all take a moment to help the Y improve instead of bashing it!
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Really, get away from the buslines and move West is the answer please! As a person who grew up and raised in Mequon let me just tell you that there is there everywhere not to mention that most of the members that are at that Y do not ride the busline and are not minorities since that is being implied thank you! What the real issue at hand is that the employees need to take better care of the members and members need to do their part as well end of story! It does not matter where u come from it is how you are raised whether you live in Milwaukee or not! I grew up in the most affluent area of the entire state that comprises of the North Shore area and let me tell you money and status does not equal class what it equals is more options and that simply sometimes amounts to bs! So...for all those people who look down on people who ride the bus and think it is them causing the problem you might wanna look in the mirror and do yourself a favor and become more open minded as it might actually be your neighboor doing the stealing too! The problem that I find at this Y is the sexism and the racism associated with this branch! Men will literally try and take over a machine while a woman is clearly using it in hopes the woman will move around or the amount of activities given to kids particularly of minority decent is limited because other members feel unsafe with a group of certain teenagers coming in at certain times! Umm, I'm sorry and call me crazy, but I would much rather have those teenagers doing extracurricular activities and being in that facility than up to mischief in the streets period! I would much rather them be exercising and being healthy than not anyday and more importantly I would most rather them be around other people from different parts of the city to expand their horizons so they overall have a better outlook on life and are diverse in their thinking and communication! People dont think about that though...people are a lot of times to self serving!
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My family has been members at the WS Y for a number of years. There is no doubt that there is a problem with theft, however, this article lacks context.What is the story here? That theft is down or that this couple no longer attends this Y? If indeed thefts are down as stated in the article what is the purpose of the article?
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I thought I had something stolen from the Wauwatosa Y (I later found it) but when I asked the police about it, they told me stuff gets stolen from there all the time and they recommended I never bring anything of value into that facility.
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TosaCentrist - Aug 26, 2010 10:01 PM - Report Abuse
Several common sense solutions include posting a guard at the check-in area and patrolling the locker rooms. However, is it possible that the thefts are being committed by employees of the Y? Don't be so certain that they are not.
As for describing folks from Milw. as "scum coming down North Avenue", there is no room in civil discussion for such comments. I read the paper like everyone else and there is no shortage or petty crime or otherwise in Waukesha Co. Was'nt it about a 1/2 year ago that some thugs from Brookfield set upon some high school runners from Tosa West calling them racial epithats and throwing punches and the like? Guess we cant trust the "scum" from Brookfield anymore can we?
Kelemvor - Aug 26, 2010 9:52 PM - Report Abuse
I don't go to that Y any more.