Cops: Car break-ins at gym parking lot in Baldwin

Nassau County First Squad detectives are investigating a rash of auto break-ins Tuesday night in a Baldwin gym's parking lot, police said.

Ten vehicles in the lot of Synergy Fitness, 830 Atlantic Ave., were broken into between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m., with items such as pocketbooks and wallets reported taken, police said.

Entry was gained by breaking vehicles' windows, police said.

Kyle Kitzen, 50, said she came out of the gym at 9:35 p.m. after a Zumba class to find her vehicle's rear passenger-side window broken and her pocketbook, which had been covered by a towel, missing. Others who had taken the class found similar situations with their vehicles, said Kitzen, who said she arrived a little late -- 8:50 p.m. -- for the class that runs from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

During the class the music was so loud it drowned out the sound of alarms going off, said Kitzen, of Woodmere. She said she felt "very violated" by the experience, "a very sad situation" to hit at the holiday time.

Anyone with information can call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 800-244-TIPS.