Gym takes measures to curb crime

Virgin Active in Groenkloof has encouraged its members to be super-vigilant after a number of them had their valuables stolen from their cars parked outside the gym.

This comes after the Sunnyside police identified the gym’s parking lot as one of the crime hot spots in the area, along with the nearby Groenkloof shopping centre and the Engen filling station. The police have urged businesses in the area to take extra security measures to protect their customers and their property.

Sunnyside police spokesperson, Asnath Malatsi, said in one of the latest incidents a VW golf belonging to a gym customer was stolen in the parking lot last Thursday. This happened after several other previous cases of car theft and theft-out-of-motor vehicles were reported to the police.

Malatsi said the thefts occurred mostly in the early mornings and evenings, which are peak times at gyms.

Although Virgin Active take the matter seriously they said they could not guarantee the safety of its customers property in the parking bays.

Virgin Active head of strategic communications, Les Aupiai,s said it would be extremely rash and irresponsible to give the public an incorrect impression that the gym would eradicate crime and the public would be completely safe, given the high crime situation in South Africa.

“We should all be super-vigilant and by doing so – being observant, being cautious, being responsible and reporting crime to the police – we may just make a difference,” Aupiais said.

He said the company was upgrading its security to protect its customers. They have hired extra security personnel to patrol the car park. Aupiais said they were also in the process of installing security lights to improve visibility in the early morning and evenings, adding that they had put up further signage to remind their clients not to leave valuables in their cars but rather to make use of lockers inside the club. The lockers are monitored by CCTV cameras.

Aupiais told Rekord that work on the CCTV cameras that monitor the booms in the car park will start early next week. He said they had also temporarily secured and closed off the broken section of the palisade fence around the club, even though responsibility for it rested with the municipality.

“We believe we have taken all the necessary precautions and steps available to us to ensure our members’ safety,” Aupiais said.

They encourage members to report any suspicious activity to the gym and the police.