Police charge Ontario residents in Winnipeg gym theft ring

Four Toronto residents are accused of breaking into gym lockers in Winnipeg and using victims’ stolen credit or debit cards to make more than $8,000 in fraudulent purchases.

An organized theft ring was linked to six break-ins and wallet thefts at gyms in south and downtown Winnipeg during one week in March, said police, who announced more than two dozen charges Friday.

“This is one of those crimes of opportunity, and they’re getting more and more clever,” spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said.

The thieves pretended they were interested in joining the gyms to gain access to secured locker areas in change rooms. Some of the lockers were locked and some were not, McKinnon said.

“(The suspects) were using some sophisticated mechanisms. They were actually breaching the locks,” she said.

Surveillance video helped the Winnipeg Police Service’s property crime unit to identify suspects. Investigators are exploring whether the group is responsible for additional incidents.

They broke into lockers at Altea Winnipeg on South Town Road in Bridgwater; GoodLife Fitness on Newmarket Boulevard in the Refinery District; GoodLife Fitness on Main Street downtown; and Planet Fitness on Meadowood Drive in St. Vital between March 12 and 18.

The GoodLife gym on Newmarket Boulevard and the Planet Fitness gym were each targeted twice. In one case, a Planet Fitness customer’s stolen credit cards were used to make about $4,000 in purchases.

Becky Zirlen, a spokeswoman for U.S.-based Planet Fitness, said the local franchise owner is working with police in their investigation.

GoodLife spokeswoman Heather Smith said no one from the London, Ont.-based company was available for an interview. Altea Winnipeg’s management did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Outside Planet Fitness, several gym members told the Free Press they weren’t aware of the thefts.

They said some members do not use locks when they leave their belongings in lockers in private change rooms. A bank of smaller lockers with built-in locks is located near the front desk.

Most said they bring few valuables or they take their wallet, keys and cellphone with them to workout areas.

“It’s very unfortunate that it happened to those folks,” said Ugonna Chigbo. “I’m uneasy leaving my valuables in (lockers).”

Kida Whitton was alarmed after learning about the thefts.

“I try not to bring things that are too valuable because I know (theft) is a possibility,” she said.

Derek Ethier was disappointed the gym was targeted.

“No matter where you go, there’s something going on,” he said about crime.

In an unrelated case, Brent Ziemski, who attends a different gym, said he was working out April 9 when someone broke in to his locker and stole his bag. He said he filed a police report, and he wasn’t aware of any arrests.

“When I went back (to the locker-room), I said, ‘Holy crap, my lock’s gone.’ Everything was gone,” he said.

The bag contained Ziemski’s wallet, cash, a debit card that he immediately cancelled, keys, a weightlifting belt and a ring he received after winning the Mr. Manitoba overall title at a Manitoba Amateur Bodybuilding Association competition in 1999.

“That was pretty disappointing that the ring went missing,” he said. “Out of everything in there, I would like that ring back.”

Ziemski had to replace the debit card, health card and, for a $10 fee, driver’s licence that were in his wallet. He said he paid $120 for a new car key and $75 for a new garage key fob.

“I feel violated. The whole thing is just an inconvenience,” said Ziemski, who was worried afterward because the thief or thieves had his name and address.

He said the caretaker of the complex where he lives changed the unit’s locks as a courtesy.

Some gyms provide lockers in open areas, near fitness equipment, to try to prevent theft, Ziemski noted.

McKinnon suggested gyms offer small lockers, each with a unique numerical code set by the user, in staffed areas for members to leave wallets, phones, keys or other valuables.

She said some gyms use security measures such as key card access or turnstiles.

If users take bank cards, keys or valuables to the gym, McKinnon suggested they carry the items with them in a small bag or hipsack while working out.

Police warned about gym locker thefts in February and June 2025, after an uptick in incidents. In some of those incidents, thieves stole keys and drove off in victims’ vehicles.

The problem is not unique to Winnipeg. Police in cities across Canada have reported locker break-ins or thefts in recent weeks.

Some fitness centres have policies that state they are not responsible for theft of personal property, and members who leave valuables in lockers do so at their own risk.

Police, meanwhile, said the four accused in the locker break-ins in March were arrested in the 600 block of St. Anne’s Road and outside a South Pointe home April 23 and 28. Three were together despite an Ontario court order.

Bogdan Todica, 40, Gabriel Bogdan Ionescu, 39, Livia Ramona Cozma, 41, and Orlando-Constantin Vaduva, 52, were charged with various offences. They were held in custody.

Police ask anyone with information to call investigators at 204-986-2426 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 204-786-TIPS (8477).

chris.kitching@freepress.mb.ca