breaking into fitness centers, stealing valuables

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — An Annadale teen is responsible for a string of thefts and break-ins at two Staten Island fitness centers, police allege.

Anthony L. Iavarone, 18, made several trips to the LA Fitness at 145 East Service Rd. in Travis in December, raiding at least three lockers to find car keys, cash and credit cards, police allege.

Whenever he found keys, he’d go into the parking lot to check their cars for valuables, police allege.

Court papers link three such thefts to Iavarone — on Dec. 9, 15 and 16.

In each case, police allege, he took a car key from a locker, found a credit card inside the vehicle, and used the card at a store at the Staten Island Mall the same day, buying merchandise at Foot Locker, Pro Image and Lidz.

Iavarone also used a stolen gym membership card for the Planet Fitness at 1775 South Ave. to enter the gym on Saturday and wander in and out of the men’s locker room.

When police arrested Iavarone Saturday, he was carrying someone else’s driver’s license, with his photo and address pasted on top.

Iavarone faces a slew of felony and misdemeanor charges — three counts each of third-degree burglary, second-degree forgery, fourth-degree grand larceny and fourth-degree criminal possession of stolen property; four counts of third-degree identity theft, and single counts of second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, fifth-degree criminal possession of stolen property and third-degree criminal trespass, said William J. Smith, a spokesman for District Attorney Daniel Donovan.