FRANKLIN PARK, Pa. — Police say three men who are part of a Romanian organized crime group are behind credit and debit card thefts from lockers at a local YMCA.
There are now warrants for the arrests of Robert Amza, Florin Costache and Mihai Andrei.
Franklin Park Police say they’ve been working with law enforcement partners around the country for months to identify the men who they say stole credit and debit cards from locked gym lockers at this Franklin Park YMCA in December, leaving the locks perfectly intact.
“There didn’t seem to be anything manipulated with,” Detective Brian Blakley with the Franklin Park Borough Police tells Channel 11. “We’re not sure what they’re doing to get into the locked lockers.”
From there, police say the men went on a shopping spree at the Ross Park Mall on someone else’s dime, spending $1,500 at Dick’s House of Sport and trying to spend more than $8,000 at Louis Vuitton. Police also connected the men to more than $3,000 in gift cards bought at Whole Foods, Giant Eagle and Dollar Tree.
“That’s awful, that’s absolutely awful,” Denisse Matos-Perez tells Channel 11. “They worked hard for that and they don’t deserve to have that stolen.”
Police say they uploaded the surveillance pictures of the men to a national crime database.
“Some other agencies, specifically on the West Coast, responded back that they had the same suspects in their gym locker thefts and they had previously arrested these gentlemen,” Detective Brian Blakley added.
Their alleged crimes span California, Washington State and Oregon.
Police say the men came into the country using passports, adding that Robert Amza has made multiple entries using multiple identities. According to court paperwork, he is on the radar of the U.S. State Department and Customs and Border Protection.
Franklin Park Police say they’re committed to holding these men accountable and keeping our local community safe.
“It definitely pulls on your heartstrings,” Detective Brian Blakley added. “People are going to the gym with their families. They’re locking up their valuables, not expecting someone to go and break their privacy.”
Police say it’s a shame even locked lockers aren’t safe. They recommend leaving valuables at home if you can.
The YMCA sent Channel 11 the following statement, saying the incident is an isolated theft that occurred at the Baierl Family YMCA in December 2025, adding, “After being made aware of the situation, YMCA staff worked closely with local law enforcement, providing security camera footage and facility check-in records to assist in the investigation. That collaboration helped authorities identify the suspects ...
“The safety and well-being of our members, guests, and staff remain our highest priority. We are grateful for the swift response of law enforcement and continue to encourage members to take common-sense precautions by securing personal belongings while visiting any public facility.
“The YMCA remains committed to providing a safe, welcoming environment for all and will continue to work proactively with local authorities whenever concerns arise.”
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