Gym thief busted for pilfering lockers

IRVINE — A Vista man was arrested over the weekend after three lockers were broken into at an Irvine 24-Hour Fitness gym on Friday night.

Police were able to track down and take into custody Dan Berry Harkey, 50, of Vista after following up on descriptions of a suspect and vehicle provided by witnesses to the burglary.

Police were summoned to the gym just before 10 p.m. Friday night with reports that a man had entered the gym, gone into the men’s locker room and broken into two locked lockers. A third unlocked locker was also ransacked.

According to police, a gym member confronted Harkey, prompting him to flee the gym and drive off before police could arrive. Witnesses were able to note the suspect’s license plate number and provide it to police.

The investigation that followed led police to where the Harkey’s vehicle was registered. Not finding the suspect there, detectives made contact with previous owners and learned that Harkey’s vehicle had changed ownership several times and wasn’t actually registered to him.

Police ultimately located the suspect in the city of Vista and he was arrested for suspicion of burglary and possession of burglary tools, according to their report.

Police believe Harkey used bolt cutters and a pry bar to break into the lockers. The pry bar was seized as evidence. The investigation also pointed to the suspect using someone else’s membership card to gain entrance to the gym, a membership card that may have been previously stolen.

Losses in the case are believed to be $180.00, said police.