Suspected Serial LA Fitness Burglar Caught In Lake Elsinore

LAKE ELSINORE, CA -- A man who allegedly stole items, including a wedding ring, from a locker at LA Fitness in Lake Elsinore was arrested this week. Police said Brandan Morales Rodriguez, 29, of Lake Elsinore, faces charges of burglary and possession of stolen property.

The incident happened on the afternoon of Friday, April 20 when a victim reported a loss of personal property from his locker within LA Fitness. A list of stolen property, to include a laptop computer, wedding band and gift cards from Costco were among other items stolen.

About 10 days later, the victim reported his stolen Costco gift cards were used at the Lake Elsinore Costco location. An investigator obtained surveillance video of the suspect and developed other investigative leads. A flyer was generated and presented to staff at LA Fitness, sheriff's officials said.

This week, an LA Fitness manager called authorities to report the suspect was seen opening lockers inside the men's locker rooms and he allegedly removed a wallet from one locker, sheriff's officials said.

The suspect was transported to the Lake Elsinore Police Station for further investigation and search warrants were served in San Jacinto and Lake Elsinore where the initial victim’s laptop computer was recovered, along with 15 men’s watches, and 10 high value men’s wallets.

Property belonging to another victim was recovered, who stated his property was stolen from a locker in a LA Fitness gym in Oceanside, California. Other property was also recovered.

The burglary investigation is continuing and anyone who may have been a victim of a theft at LA Fitness is encouraged to contact Lead Investigator Carranza at the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at 951-245-3300.

--Photo via Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station