20 Year Old Man Stole From Leisure Centres Across The Borough


He admitted to posing as staff member and 24 counts of thieving

On Thursday 12th January 2012, officers from Tooting Safer Neighbourhoods Team arrested a 20 year old man after launching an investigation into a number of locker thefts at Tooting Leisure Centre.

Members of public had reported to police that whilst they were using the facilities at the Leisure Centre somebody had managed to break into the lockers where their possessions were stored and steal personal items, which included mobile telephones, bags and cash.

Officers from Tooting Safer Neighbourhoods Team began an investigation into the thefts and researched similar incidents reported at other Leisure Centres throughout Wandsworth over a number of months.

Having identified a suspect, officers attended an address in Woodford Green in Essex and arrested a 20 year old male.  Upon interviewing the man he subsequently admitted to posing as a member of staff to commit twenty four burglaries at various Wandsworth Leisure centres over a period of several months, including centres at Tooting, Balham, Putney and Latchmere.

Sergeant Eric Ostrowski from Tooting Safer Neighbourhood Team said:
“Hopefully the victims of this man will obtain some comfort in knowing that he has been caught. I am expecting the level of thefts from lockers in Wandsworth Leisure Centres to decrease significantly as a result of this arrest.’



January 23, 2012