Locker Room Etiquette: to lock or not to lock (Page 3)

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This is very common, unfortunately, because the aforementioned bad guys know that many people leave valuables in their cars while they work out.  Much better to take it inside and lock it up.

Lock it, always.  Someone once stole my brand new Heidi Klum Birkenstocks ---- while I was in the shower, about four feet away.  B!tch.

ETA this was in a private gym in a very upmarket part of town

What argument could possibly be made in favor of not locking your locker, except that it's easier/quicker?

Get a combination lock so you don't have to carry around a key. You don't need a giant bulletproof lock either, just enough to deter the "casual" thief (your gym may be different, but that's my theory anyway). I got a great one during back-to-school last year. I could probably break it with one kick, but it's enough to eliminate temptation for the weak of character.

How about "trust and faith in your fellow man"?  I don't know where you folks live but in my part of the country, theft is not a issue. 

Maybe I'm just naive but I go to three different gyms, have never locked anything and have never had anything go missing....ever....not in 13 years.  Again, maybe in other parts of the country theft is an issue but the gyms I go to, theft is simply not an issue.  At my work gym I leave my cell phone, wallet, iPod and car keys in my locker, unlocked....and so does everyone else. 

If theft is an issue where you live, then by all means lock your stuff up but don't assume that every part of the country is the same.  Or better still, don't bring anything to them gym that you are fearful of someone stealing.

~Mike

What the heck is that anyway?!

~Mike

People steal everywhere. Esp. in a major metropolitan/urban area, you'd be stupid not to lock up your stuff.  

Gahh...double post.

How is this even a question?!  You don't look!

Oh, LOCK.  My bad.

There are facts and there are opinions.  13 years of going to the gym, never used a lock and never had anything go missing.   So I guess I am stupid as you say or maybe I'm just lucky or maybe God just looks out for me.  I've always felt I've had unmerited favor in life and after reading this thread, I'm even more convinced that I do. 

If someone steals my 'stuff' maybe they need it more than I do anyway....heck, if they'd of asked, I'd give it to 'em anway.

~Mike

Do you have a Tri bike?  Can I have it? ;-) 

Kidding - I think you're lucky to not have to lock your stuff BUT, I think you should still put something on the locker to designate that it is in use.  I have that pet peeve when I am in search of prime locker real estate!

Anyone else find it oddly ironic that people would steal at the YMCA?

At one of the gyms I go to there is a basket at the front desk that people put their car keys in.  There are usually 30+ sets of car keys in the basket.    I guess if someone needed a new car, they could just pick up a set of keys, go into the parking lot and hit the remote to find the vehicle and drive off. 

~Mike

You're not getting it.  No one at the gyms I go to use locks.  Must be a regional thing.

~Mike

I don't think people that steal stuff from lockers or break into cars at the gym "need" it.  I doubt they are stealing to feed their children.  They're not stealing bread or warm clothes.  They are stealing b/c its an opportunity to make a quick buck.

I just don't understand not using a lock.  What's the harm? Its like not using a smoke detector in your house b/c you've never had a fire before.  Chances are you won't have a fire, but what's wrong with a little piece of mind?

shoes that probably cost as much as a cervelo...

I don't lock my stuff up. most of the guys at my gym know each other and even close open lockers if there is gear in there...

Birks designed by Heidi Klum - they are pretty pricey:

http://www.birkenstock.de/pshop/birkenstock.html?PHPSESSID=dce6cacce9201aa3e4c80d70209b5e36

Exactly. I donate to charity, I donate to my church. I bring my clothes to Goodwill. I help people who need it. I would prefer NOT to donate my credit cards to some bored, delinquent teenager...

I belong to a Y and have a locker and padlock there provided by the Y. When I go to workout, I always have a dufflebag with clothes etc... and I will throw that into a big long locker with coat/shoes and keep the locker with my swim cap/fins/paddles and make up and shower stuff locked (vs the nice cashmere sweater I just got) LOL (I have had Aveda products taken when I left it out of my locker on a counter.  There is a 'lost and found' in the locker room with stuff in it but I've never seen any 'nice stuff' in there and assume that folks who leave nice stuff get it taken unless its glasses, cell phones etc..or stuff that no one could use).

It seems someone would have to be pretty bold to go digging through a bag to find stuff.

The locker room has a key pad to enter so not everyone goes in and most peeps 'know' each other.

But with more areas getting more populated I think people become detached from each other and if given the chance they may snatch something up if they think no one is watching or more importantly that no one cares or would dare say anything.....

So you can put it on some random locker after getting all pizzed because you had to open a dozen lockers without locks to find an empty one.

I think the message here is, 'when in Rome, do as the Romans do'.  That is, if you go a gym where most of the lockers have locks, you probably should use a lock - for security as well as an indication that the locker is in use.  But if you go to a gym where locks are seldom or never used, don't feel obligated to use one.

So that fancy name thing are SHOES?  LOL  I can't image someone stealing shoes but I guess people do that sort of thing.  "Where did you get those lovely heals?"  "Oh, I stole them from the local gym.....just my size too!  I had to rumage thru half a dozen lockers before I found a pair my size."

~Mike