Gym Locker Thieves Had Nearly $50K In Gift Cards: Elmhurst PD

ELMHURST, IL — Two men have been arrested after allegedly breaking into lockers at an Elmhurst health club and stealing credit cards, the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office said in a release. Azeez Aweda, 31, and Tasiu Jimoh, 31, both of Houston, Texas, have each been charged with two counts of burglary and one count of identity theft. Tasiu was also charged with one count of possession of burglary tools.

The State's Attorney's Office said both men appeared in bond court on Saturday and bond was set at $100,000 with 10 percent to apply for each man.

According to the State's Attorney's Office, on June 25, Elmhurst police officers responded to a call at LA Fitness on York Road for a report of offenders breaking into a locker. The victim reported that his locker had been broken into and that his car keys were taken. The victim also reported that his car, which was parked in the LA Fitness parking lot, was burglarized and that three credit cards had been stolen.

It is alleged that at approximately 1:30 p.m. June 25, Aweda and Jimoh entered the health club and once inside, they broke into the victim’s locker, and stole his car keys. The State's Attorney's Office said the pair then used the keys to burglarize the victim’s car. It is alleged that Aweda and Jimoh then used the stolen credit cards to purchase gift cards from the Elmhurst Mariano’s in the amount of $3,045.

An investigation into the matter conducted by the Elmhurst Police Department led to Aweda and Jimoh. The State's Attorney's Office said the two were arrested and taken into custody without incident on Thursday, June 28, at an area hotel where they were allegedly found to be in possession of $47,125 worth of gift cards. Tasiu was also allegedly found to be in possession of bolt cutters capable of breaking into a locked locker.

“When members of the public are in a facility that requires them to lock their valuables, they have every right to expect that their valuables will be there when they return,” DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin said in a release. “It is alleged that by whatever means, these two defendants gained access to a restricted area of a health club where they never should have been, broke into a locked locker and helped themselves to whatever they could find."

Aweda’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 23, and Jimoh’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 16. Both men are scheduled to be arraigned at their next court appearance. Tasiu has posted bail, and has been released from custody. Aweda remains in custody at the DuPage County Jail.

Photos provided by DuPage County State's Attorney's Office.