A man says his $20,000 Rolex was stolen from inside a locked locker at an Equinox gym in Studio City, raising concerns about thefts in fitness centers across Los Angeles.
Darrius Hicks told KTLA he placed his watch in his locker on Sept. 18 before taking a shower and using the steam room. When he returned about 15 minutes later, the watch was gone.
“I put my watch inside the locker,” Hicks said. “Took a shower and steamed. I came back maybe about 15 minutes or so and my watch was gone.”
Hicks said the Rolex carried more than just monetary value. He explained that he and a close friend bought matching watches to celebrate the success of their real estate ventures.
“We were starting real estate together and doing quite a few real estate deals, and then we bought these matching Rolexes as a celebratory thing,” Hicks recalled. “Maybe about three years later he passed away at the age of 36.”
LAPD has not confirmed whether Hicks’ case is connected to other reported gym thefts. However, officials have previously warned that locker rooms in gyms across Los Angeles — from the San Fernando Valley to the Westside — have become frequent targets for thieves.
“After the suspects go and enter gymnasiums, we’ve seen locks cut and broken,” LAPD Captain Warner Castillo said. “Versus the solid locks… there is no way they will get those items.”
Authorities recommend gym-goers invest in heavy-duty locks or leave valuables at home.
Other members say they’ve already changed their habits. “I don’t wear watches very much anymore,” Equinox member Greg Gottfried said. “In the last couple years people used to wear watches all the time, but now if I’m wearing a short sleeve, I’m not wearing a watch right now.”
In a statement, Equinox said: “We take the security of our members’ property very seriously and are assisting law enforcement following a recent incident.”
Hicks said when he shared his story on social media, he heard from others who had similar experiences. He hopes his case serves as a reminder for people to remain vigilant.
“There isn’t any recourse,” Hicks said. “When you’re going to these gyms and you’re going out grocery shopping, just on your everyday errands, be vigilant because people are wild and it’s insane that you can’t go to the gym without being robbed.”
Ellina Abovian’s reporting contributed to this article.
