Police: Bold thief targeting YMCA members
SEATTLE -- Police say a bold thief targeted YMCA locker rooms around the region, stealing credit cards and cash while members worked out.
Police say Nolan Zahajko used a guest pass to get inside the YMCA of Snohomish County. Once he was past the counter, he allegedly rummaged through coat pockets and wallets. If he found car keys, police say he would go to the parking lot and burglarize the car.
"Specifically, he was looking for credit cards and once he found those he immediately went to nearby businesses to purchase gift cards," said Debbie Willis of the Monroe Police Department.
Zahajko allegedly used the stolen credit cards at Rite Aid, Fred Meyer, Lowe's, Big 5 and Staples.
Monroe Police worked with other law enforcement agencies to identify and track down Zahajko, who is now accused of stealing from YMCA locker rooms in Bellevue, Auburn, Kirkland, Bothell and Shoreline.
Jim Mercer said his car keys and credit card were stolen at a YMCA in Shoreline.
"They were real bold," Mercer said. "It was like three, four days in a row, then they weren't here for awhile."
Shoreline Police arrested Zahajko, but a judge later released him. Once he was back on the streets, police say the thefts continued.
"When people don't get the proper consequences for their actions, they continue and you can see this with the amount of agencies that this person is a suspect with," Willis said.
Zahajko was arrested again last week and charged in connection with the Monroe YMCA case. He's now being held at the Snohomish County Jail.
YMCA directors around the region are now posting signs to remind members to leave valuables at home and use extra caution in locker rooms.
Zahajko was the only person arrested in the Monroe case, but detectives believe he may have worked with other theives.
Police say Nolan Zahajko used a guest pass to get inside the YMCA of Snohomish County. Once he was past the counter, he allegedly rummaged through coat pockets and wallets. If he found car keys, police say he would go to the parking lot and burglarize the car.
"Specifically, he was looking for credit cards and once he found those he immediately went to nearby businesses to purchase gift cards," said Debbie Willis of the Monroe Police Department.
Zahajko allegedly used the stolen credit cards at Rite Aid, Fred Meyer, Lowe's, Big 5 and Staples.
Monroe Police worked with other law enforcement agencies to identify and track down Zahajko, who is now accused of stealing from YMCA locker rooms in Bellevue, Auburn, Kirkland, Bothell and Shoreline.
Jim Mercer said his car keys and credit card were stolen at a YMCA in Shoreline.
"They were real bold," Mercer said. "It was like three, four days in a row, then they weren't here for awhile."
Shoreline Police arrested Zahajko, but a judge later released him. Once he was back on the streets, police say the thefts continued.
"When people don't get the proper consequences for their actions, they continue and you can see this with the amount of agencies that this person is a suspect with," Willis said.
Zahajko was arrested again last week and charged in connection with the Monroe YMCA case. He's now being held at the Snohomish County Jail.
YMCA directors around the region are now posting signs to remind members to leave valuables at home and use extra caution in locker rooms.
Zahajko was the only person arrested in the Monroe case, but detectives believe he may have worked with other theives.
Young man there's a place you can go
I said young man when you're short on your dough...
It's fun to steal at the Y-M-C-A...It is all the Village People's fault
Why in the hell was he let out? He is obviously going to do it again. Hopefully the cops are tailing this dude's sorry butt to find out who his buddies are or catch him in the act.
"are now posting signs to remind members to leave valuables at home and use extra caution in locker rooms."?
Isn't that saying: "Well, if you get robbed, it's really your fault."? Suppose I have more than one stop (and not just to window shop), am I supposed to drive home to get my wallet, credit cards and cash and then come back. And if it's a 45 minute drive (one way)?
STUPID! That is not a solution, that's only a very lame CYA from the YMCA.
Are these lockers constructed so that it is impossible for a person to use their own lock?
At the local Y, they have day lockers that are free to use, and I must open several lockers before finding a empty one. Â So it seems legit to just go in with a bag and start looking for an available locker.Â
Amazing to me. They have him on camera multiple places and have proof of him using multiple stolen credit cards. What more could they need to convict him. It's not as if it's hearsay or speculation. And sadly, I'm sure due to his age and our justice system, odds are he'll get some kind of short, deferred sentence (if at all), and some type of community service, and be right back out.Â
Such a blatant example of how broken the system is.Â
@Thunder Some defense attorney will try to suppress as much of the evidence as possible. A jury sometimes never even gets to hear all the evidence. That is part of how we end up with pathetic verdicts.Â
"When people don't get the proper consequences for their actions, they continue and you can see this with the amount of agencies that this person is a suspect with,"Â
She's right on. There is no proper consequences for these low life criminals actions. From DUI to gun violence to whatever the crime of the day is. Time to throw these spineless judges out of the courtrooms. Time to get tough on crime.
But then on the other note it's definately not very bright to leave any valuables in an unlocked locker. Or to even leave an unloced locker unattended for any length of time.
we don't need a new  waterfront, speed rail....we need more jails and prisons and better judges. This has just gotten out of hand.
Ummmmmm....why didn't the victims LOCK THEIR STUFF UP!?!?! When are the victims gonna stop being victims? Sheesh!!! The zombies are not just going to magically disappear ya know.
awww the government hates competition.Â
"Shoreline Police arrested Zahajko, but a judge later released him"
PLEASE post the name of that judge and why s/he saw fit to release this loser.... Judges are elected and accountable to us, just like politicians....
//off topic//Â WTH did Komo do to the commenting system? Seems they fixed something that wasn't broke.
@DrugFighter On your off topic comment, They added the edit function that everyone has been complaining about. What do you not like about the update?
@DarkParty @DrugFighter Don't know about DrugFighter but the edit function is only partially functional. On another topic, I spotted a typo after posting, used edit to correct it ... then thought of something else I wanted to add ... but couldn't edit a second time even with four minutes remaining.
 A little knowledge is a dangerous thing (Pope) but a little ignorance is twice as bad (me)
@DarkParty @Ben Ezzell My point was that DrugFighter might have already edited once and then -- like me -- found himself unable to edit again.
@Ben Ezzell Still, it is better than having no edit at all, I would prefer more, but will take the little things for now.
@DrugFighter Judges need to be more accountable for public safety.Â