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Police: Gym Locker Thefts Across Manhattan

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The NYPD says three men on a crime spree are targeting valuables left inside gym lockers across Manhattan.

To some, the men look like they're just checking in for a gym session.

"It's terrible. I'm so surprised to hear something like that," said gym member Aly Van.

Investigators believe three men stole about $92,000 in men's luxury watches and jewelry from upscale gyms in Midtown down to Wall Street.

"Usually that doesn't happen, I've never encountered that," said another gym member, Mati Gelman.

Police say the trio snatched nine designer watches like Rolex ranging from roughly $1,700 to $25,000, plus one wedding band. All of the valuables were in the victim's locked lockers in the men's room.

"I don't know how they did that, that's the first time I'm hearing of that. I'll be more careful," said Gelman.

"Me, personally, I just don't bring anything valuable to these types of places you just don't know," said member Dan Dougherty.

Authorities say the men targeted two Equinox locations -- one in Midtown and one on Wall Street, plus a Park Avenue South New York Health and Racquet Club and the fitness centers inside the Peninsula and Parker Hotels.

"They're probably targeting gyms in this area because of the clientele that comes here and also the people that pay all this money to attend Equinox, so I do hope they catch them," said gym member Terea Shaffer.

Police say there have been seven incidents, all of them happening between May and June.

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