Vehicle Break-Ins At EP Fitness Alarm Clients

EL PASO — A local woman says she’s quite upset that her car was broken into while she went to a gym to workout.

The incident happened some weeks ago at an East Side EP Fitness, and since then, ABC 7 has learned there have been a number of similar incidents reported at the company’s locations.

Vandals broke the front passenger-side window of Jennifer Armendariz’s Cadillac, popped the trunk, and stole her purse, all while it was parked in the lot atthe EPFitness on James Watt at Lee Trevino.

“It’s been a pain,” she said. “I have to cancel everything I have.”

She claims her car was burglarized between 12:30 p.m.and 1:45 p.m.

Since then, Armendariz said she has heard from other gym members whose cars have been broken into. When Armendariz asked the manager if he was aware of the problem, she said he was.

Armendariz claims he also told her only twoEP Fitness locations have security cameras, and the location on James Watt is not one of them. EP Fitness said that claim is incorrect; because the investigation is ongoing, security measures would not be discussed.

A competitor of EP Fitness — Planet Fitness — said it has increased parking lot lighting and off-duty police officers providing security.

That extra security may prompt Armendariz to switch. “For sure I won’t go to that location. I don’t think I’ll stay a member there, either.”

Representativeswith EP Fitness declined an on-camera interview, but they released the following statement: “Unfortunately, expressing any comment on our security measures would compromise the actions we are currently undertaking. Extensive measures have been and are being taken byEP Fitness to prevent break-ins.”

The El Paso Police Department has released the following statistics concerning vehicle break-ins at EP Fitness, from a year ending Jan. 1, 2008:

James Watt – 40 Montwood – 23 Resler – 17 Raragon – 15 Rushing – 11 Wedgewood – 14