IRVINE, CA (October 19, 2009):  Irvine Police have arrested a Vista man in connection with breaking into lockers at a local health club. 

On Friday October 16, 2009 shortly before 10:00 p.m. Irvine Police were summoned to a health club in the 8600 block of Irvine Center Drive to investigate several thefts from lockers at that location.  According to witnesses a man entered the club and went into the men's locker room, where he broke into two lockers and rummaged through a third one that was unlocked.  When the man was confronted by one of the club members he exited the club and fled in a vehicle.  Witnesses obtained the license plate of the suspect's vehicle and provided it to police.

The suspect left the area prior to police arrival and wasn't immediately located where his vehicle was registered.  Evidently the suspect's vehicle had changed ownership several times and was not registered to him.  Irvine detectives followed-up on the case and ultimately located the suspect in the City of Vista.  He was subsequently arrested for suspicion of burglary and possession of burglary tools. 

Based on the investigation, it is believed the suspect was using bolt-cutters and a pry bar to access the locked lockers.  A pry bar was seized by detectives.  The investigation also revealed that the suspect entered the club by presenting a membership card that belonged to someone else.  Detectives are looking into the possibility that the membership card had been previously stolen.  The loss in this case was $180.

Arrestee:

Dan Berrey Harkey, a 50-year-old resident of Vista.