Madison Police Bust Man For Multi-Year Crime Enterprise

Madison Police have arrested James Stephen Winning.  They say he has been running a criminal enterprise since 2010.

Officers says he stole valuables from gym lockers, sometimes taking car keys, then going to steal from cars.

They believe he used stolen credit cards to buy electronics and sell them on Ebay.

Police say he’s been to fitness clubs all over the South, from Atlanta to Birmingham to the Huntsville area.

Madison detectives discovered travel records after someone caught winning going through their car at the Madison YMCA.

Madison Police Department’s Lt. John Stringer explains, “One of the patrons at the YMCA had been inside working out and came out to the parking lot, discovered someone was actually going through his vehicle, detained the person, called the police.  Officers responded, realized that there was a felony situation.  They called for detectives to look further into it.”

The detectives started to piece together evidence, leading them to believe this may not have been the first time something like this has happened.

They broke the case open on Tuesday.

Lt. Stringer tells the story, “They served a search warrant at his residence and located numerous items of stolen property and other property that was believed to be stolen.  We recovered about $10,000 dollars worth of items.”

Police believe the items get sold on Ebay.  

They’re working with the online auction house to track down more information.

But keeping yourself safe from crimes like this is pretty simple.

Lt. Stringer advises, “If you go to a gym, either rent a lock, bring your own locker, and lock it.  Combination locks are best.”

So lock up when you work out.

Madison Police say charges are pending in this case.

They ask you to contact your local law enforcement agency if you believe your belongings could be among those recovered.