Locker raiders leave swimmers out in the cold
Marc Mullen
TWO swimmers were left high and dry at Swiss Cottage leisure centre after thieves dipped into their lockers.
Eylem Tuncer and Paul Gibson returned to the male changing area after enjoying a Monday lunch-time dip in the Swiss Cottage pool to find audacious robbers had pri-sed open their lockers and helped themselves to their valuables.
Still dripping wet and in their trunks, the two swimmers went to the reception area to complain to staff and were shocked to be told they were not the first victims.
Mr Tuncer, 33, who lives in Greencroft Gardens, said: "They have stolen my coat and my trousers. I've lost my wallet, my keys, my phone - everything that's important. I don't know what I am going to do.
"They have taken my driving licence and I have my test tomorrow. I just don't know what I can do.
"They said this has happened before. Why haven't they caught them and why don't they have signs up warning us about robberies? I pay £40 a month to be a member here."
Staff searched the bins outside to no avail. Eventually Mr Tuncer was lent a pair of tracksuit bottoms to protect his modesty.
After Mr Gibson had finished cancelling his cards with his bank in Australia, he and Mr Tuncer were ushered by management into a back office.
Dave Hobbs, Camden Swiss Cottage Swimming Club director of swimming, said: "I know there was some issue when the centre first opened, but I haven't heard of any recently."
A spokeswoman for Camden Council said there have been 21 break-ins to lockers at the pool this year.
Greenwich Leisure Limited, which runs the leisure centre on behalf of the council, said it had increased staff to make sure they have a presence in the changing rooms. Management also say they have increased the CCTV coverage in the centre.
The pool at Swiss Cottage has had a chequered history since it reopened in March 2006. It had been closed for four years during a £27million redevelopment.
In July swimmers were evacuated in their bathing costumes when the third fire in a year broke out in the basement of the centre.
And in March the centre closed for two weeks for a "health check."
A spokeswoman for Greenwich Leisure Limited said: "We can confirm that two lockers within the wet male changing rooms at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre were broken into on October 29.
"As per standard procedures, GLL staff immediately alerted the police who attended the scene and took statements from an affected customer and centre managers.
"GLL takes security at Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre extremely seriously. During 2007 around £40,000 has been invested in locker security with the transfer from a coin-based system to a token-based system. GLL continually reviews its systems and ways in which to further improve security."
marc.mullen@hamhigh.co.uk
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