A Lancaster fitness club was under investigation Thursday for possible theft by false pretenses, and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives say they plan to reach out to the club’s estimated 600 members to obtain more evidence in the case.
Lancaster Station detectives said they are investigating Sport Club AV at 1020 Commerce Center Dr., where it is alleged that members were electronically overcharged for their September dues.
The extra fees were not previously disclosed to the members, and the business closed soon after the dues were collected, authorities said.
Detectives said they have enough information from potential victims to determine if, in fact, a crime has been committed.
In anticipation of a large number of potential victims, detectives said they need more time to gather additional evidence, and the Lancaster Station will post a request for information to the community at a later date to help identify additional potential victims.
Club members who believe that they were victimized were asked not to contact detectives at this time but to gather their membership contract and any bank statements or receipts documenting their membership dues.
—City News Service