Twice in recent weeks, someone has gone inside the Orokawa Family Center Y on Chesapeake Avenue in Towson, removed keys and then gone outside and stolen the vehicles associated with them, according to Baltimore County Police reports.
The first time was on Jan. 21 between 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Police said car keys were stolen from a locker and then the corresponding 2008 silver Volvo was stolen. It happened again on Feb. 7. That day between 11:45 a.m and 12:45 p.m., car keys and a gray 2008 gray Toyota RAV4 were stolen, according to police reports.
Y officials have responded to the thefts by posting signs around the building alerting members to be on guard, according to Sherrie Rovnan, chief financial officer for the Y of Central Maryland. She said the signs, which went up after the second theft, advise members to lock their cars, keep valuables out of sight and protect their keys.
"We provide lockers," Rovnan said. Members have been asked to lock their keys in a locker or keep them in view. In both cases, unsecured keys were stolen, which enabled the thieves to steal cars from the Y parking lot.
Rovnan said they are unsure how the thieves got into the building or whether they were members and had free access. Only the Y's front door is unlocked and everyone who enters must scan a membership tag or card to gain access to the facility.
"We've definitely alerted our staff to be on the lookout," Rovnan said. Staff members are studying security camera tapes to see if non-members were able to get into the building, she said.
"We're definitely going to be taking precautions," Rovnan said. "We don't want that to happen to our members."