Stash the cash before going for a splash: couple learns costly lesson at Pan Am Pool

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This article was published 19/04/2024 (836 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Shelley Pratt and her husband took their two grandchildren for a swim at Pan Am Pool earlier this week.

It turned into an expensive, upsetting outing.

When they got out of the water and her husband returned to the changing room, the locker he used was open and his phone, wallet and cash were gone. So was his jacket, in exchange for one left by the thief.

“Somebody broke into several of the lockers there,” said Pratt, adding she’s been swimming at the pool for decades. “It’s so frustrating.”

The theft happened between 3:30 and 4:30 Tuesday afternoon, during the facility’s only free-admission swimming slot of the week, she said. “I think that’s why the person chose to come then, because there are many people there.”

She said a supervisor mentioned a sign at the front desk advising that valuables can be placed in envelopes and kept there.

“I didn’t see it at all, and I’m there all the time. I said, ‘You should be putting this sign up all over the place, warning people.’”

Pratt said she returned to the pool Wednesday and signs were visible in several areas — except inside the locker rooms.

She said she was also at Bonivital, another city-operated pool, Thursday and there were no signs up there.

She has since learned a friend’s wallet was stolen at Pan Am in January.

While Pratt and her family were swimming, the thief was spending. A purchase was made at a nearby Liquor Mart before the stolen credit card was cancelled.

Winnipeg Police Service spokesman Const. Claude Chancy said there have been other recent reports of theft at the pool.

“The advice we provide to the general public is to be aware of their surroundings,” Chancy said, adding each report filed is evaluated.

Coun. Evan Duncan, chairman of the civic community services committee, which oversees the city’s aquatic facilities, said he was sorry the couple had been victimized.

“It is obviously unfortunate when someone goes to enjoy a recreational purpose and they can’t feel safe putting things in a locked locker,” Duncan said.

“(Another theft there) was brought to my attention a few weeks back. I hope what this is isn’t somebody now learning it’s an easy grab for them at the local pool.”

Duncan said if more thefts occur the city might be forced to add extra security at the facility.

City spokesman Kalen Qually said there is always the potential for theft when leaving belongings in lockers at public facilities.

“To help protect against that risk, there has been a long-standing practice at all city pools to encourage patrons to leave valuables in the care of staff behind the front desk… we are not currently considering changes to our lockers in pool facilities.”

Pratt said she and her husband are out about $1,400 in total, including the cost of a new phone. And then there’s the time involved in replacing credit an health cards, a driver’s licence…

“This has changed my behaviour,” she said. “We won’t be putting (valuables) in the lockers ever again.”

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca