DC police: 10 yoga studios and gyms burglarized over past 30 days

WASHINGTON - In the last 30 days, thieves have been targeting yoga studios and gyms in Washington D.C. There have been ten burglaries since late June and D.C. police want owners and managers of these types of studios and gyms to beware.

One of the burglaries happened at the Bikram Hot Yoga studio in Ivy City in late June. This break-in was captured on surveillance video.

According to police, a male suspect was able to force entry into the empty studio through a door that was locked. In the video, he is seen spending a considerable amount of time inside the studio's reception area, going through the cash register, filling items into his backpack and then calmly walk out the door.

"We did look at the tape and we saw the guy come in, we saw his face very clearly, we don't recognize him," said studio manager Amber Speight. "He felt very comfortable. He took a lot of time hanging out in here looking around for keys, money, whatever he could find, and he broke the register and he broke into one of our back rooms using the crowbar. I think he was taking random things around the register. Yes, he took money."

Last week, a new bicycle shop that opened next door to the yoga studio was also burglarized.

"Theft happens everywhere," said Philip Koopman, co-owner of BicycleSPACE. "Certainly, we have had it at other stores and other areas of the city. That they are particularly vulnerable, maybe being targeted, that is hard to say, but I don't think that is something that is exclusive to them in terms of vulnerability or approach there."

Koopman said he did not recognize the man in the video of the yoga studio robbery.

D.C. police are urging businesses to have working surveillance and alarm systems in light of these burglaries.