A contractor hired to remodel a fitness studio in Forest Park, Ohio, instead allegedly stole equipment from the business.
The owner of Saks Pole Fitness, Yazmine Harris, told WXIX-TV that she hired a man to make improvements to the studio, but he rigged the door to stay unlocked and returned to steal speakers, other sound equipment, drills, saws and more. The value of the items taken was about $2,000.
“I literally cried because I put so much into this building... I wanted to let go right then and there.” https://t.co/UHGVFCADIq
— FOX19 NOW (@FOX19) January 6, 2023
"Literally every piece, even the cords, and that right there is very expensive," Harris told the news station. "It's going to make me cry because it was so expensive."
Surveillance video reportedly shows the man, alleged to be 43-year-old William Ingram, carrying the speakers out of the business.
Harris says she hired Ingram to build a juice bar. She claims he was planning the theft even as he was taking measurements inside for the project.
"As he’s in here, he’s jimmying up each door, and he, I believe, put a piece of tape on that door so he could let himself back in,” she said.
Harris said she became emotional watching the surveillance footage.
“I literally cried because I put so much into this building,” she told WXIX-TV. “I wanted to let go right then and there.”
Harris has had to spend more money to upgrade locks and has added additional motion sensor cameras. WXIX-TV said Harris was able to track down some of the sound equipment Ingram allegedly sold to a pawn shop.
"I’m putting in so much money, and here I go having to purchase these things all over," she said.
Ingram has been arrested on suspicion of breaking and entering.
His case is scheduled to go to a grand jury Jan. 17.
