Melbourne gymgoers warned as hundreds of cars stolen
Gymgoers in Melbourne’s south-east are being urged to look after their belongings while working out amid a spate of vehicle thefts.
Victoria Police revealed in six months between November, 2025 and April, around 250 cars were stolen from fitness centre car-parks in south-east Melbourne alone, with more than half of these thefts occurring in Dandenong, Casey, and Cardinia.
Gymgoers in Melbourne are being urged to keep their belongings safe and secure after a spate of alleged car thefts. iStock
Detectives in the area investigating several thefts found the keys were stolen while owners were exercising, with offenders following gymgoers inside the gym before taking keys from their bags.
While gyms will often offer up secure lockers, some will leave their belongings in communal areas, which leave them open to being stolen.
Police said many of the alleged offenders were teenagers who tailgated to gain entry to the gyms.
Since April, the thefts have continued, with one instance seeing a black Holden Cruze allegedly stolen from a gym in Glen Iris after a boy gained access to the gym through tailgating, and stole a set of house and car keys.
The car was later found in Forrest Hill, but just two days later the teenager allegedly returned and stole a Mazda 2, which was later seen driving at high speed through Dandenong.
A 15-year-old girl was arrested after fleeing the car in Keysborough, while the car itself was allegedly dumped by three boys in Waterways, before the trio got into a rideshare car, that was eventually intercepted on Hutton Road.
The girl and a 16-year-old boy were charged with theft of a motor vehicle, while another 16-year-old boy was charged with theft of a motor vehicle and possessing a prohibited weapon.
The trio were bailed to appear in a children’s court at a later date, while a 17-year-old boy was charged multiple offences, including the theft of both cars, aggravated burglary and reckless conduct endangering life.
He was remanded and will face a children’s court at a later date.
Acting Senior Sergeant Benita Pringle said the stolen cars were often used as getaway cars in other crimes.
“We’ve recently seen the consequences of cars stolen from gyms and being driven by youths,” she said.
“They’re more often than not used to aid further criminality, where offenders try to fly under the radar of police to commit serious and violent crimes.”
She urged gymgoers in melbourne’s south-east to take extra precautions when visiting the gym, including using secure lockers instead of shelves that are out in the open and free for people to pilfer from.
“Opportunistic thieves are looking for an easy steal with as little effort as possible. Don’t make it any easier for them to take your car,” she added, urging people to park their cars in well-lit areas near CCTV cameras.
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