Man Jailed for Hacking Bank Accounts Using Stolen Gym Locker PINs

A man from Bromley, England, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison and banned from numerous fitness centers across the country for stealing gym members’ locker PINs and using them to gain access to their bank accounts.

Declan Murphy, 35, pleaded guilty to three counts of theft and 11 counts of fraud by false representation on January 17th, according to a statement released by the City of London Police. He has also received a Criminal Behavior Order, restricting him from entering specific gyms nationwide.

The criminal activity began on September 13th, 2024, at a London gym. Between 8:10 and 9:25 a.m. local time, Murphy observed a gym member entering a four-digit code into his locker. Murphy correctly deduced that this same four-digit code was used for the victim’s phone and bank card.

After stealing the victim’s bank cards, Murphy intentionally damaged the victim’s phone, rendering it unusable. This prevented the victim from immediately contacting his bank or monitoring transactions via banking apps. Police stated this tactic provided Murphy with a crucial window of opportunity to carry out his fraudulent activities.

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Murphy then withdrew approximately $609 in cash from a nearby ATM. He also attempted a purchase of roughly $6,575 worth of merchandise at an Apple Store, but the transaction was declined. Authorities confirmed that Murphy had committed two similar offenses in June while out on bail for the September incident. He gained access to various gym chains using membership cards registered under false names.

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The sentencing judge, Edward Connell, characterized Murphy’s crimes as “pre-planned” and “well-practiced,” according to a report by The Guardian. Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Ines, head of the Criminal Investigation Department and Victim Crime Unit at the City of London Police, emphasized the importance of this case as a cautionary tale for gym members.

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“Gym-goers often assume their belongings are secure in lockers and don’t anticipate someone observing them to steal their PIN,” Ines stated in the official police release. “Unfortunately, this is a known method employed by prolific criminals like Murphy.”

Ines strongly advised, “Never use the same PIN code for your gym locker, phone, and bank cards.” This case highlights the vulnerability of using a single PIN for multiple purposes and underscores the need for enhanced security awareness in everyday life.