A National Scheme of Theft Targets YMCAs Across the Country
In a scheme that spanned multiple states, two men, identified as 21-year-olds Abdullah Berry and Nathaniel Boureanu, embarked on a series of thefts at YMCA facilities across the United States. What seemed like isolated incidents of petty theft turned out to be part of a much larger criminal operation, with the men stealing from gym lockers, using stolen credit cards, and making fraudulent purchases at stores.
A Crime That Started in Wisconsin
The story began nearly a year ago at the YMCA at Pabst Farms in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Police reports indicate that on that day, the two men entered the gym with a clear objective: to steal valuables from unattended lockers. The duo managed to get away with wallets, credit cards, hundreds of dollars in cash, and car keys from unsuspecting gym-goers. They didn’t stop there—they made off with the personal items, heading straight for stores where they used the stolen credit cards to rack up over $1,700 in purchases.
At first glance, it might appear to be a simple theft case. But as investigators dug deeper, it became clear that the crime in Oconomowoc was part of a broader, multi-state theft operation. Local authorities soon discovered that the same two men were responsible for a string of similar thefts across Wisconsin. After hitting the YMCA in Oconomowoc, Berry and Boureanu were also reported to have stolen from facilities in Greenfield and Sun Prairie. What had initially seemed like a local issue was rapidly unfolding as a national problem.
A Larger Pattern of Theft Unveiled
The crimes committed by Berry and Boureanu were not confined to Wisconsin. In fact, the men’s criminal activities stretched across the United States. As the investigation progressed, it became clear that the two were operating as part of a larger scheme involving gym locker thefts. Their pattern of crime spread through several states, with incidents reported in Ohio, Arizona, Indiana, and Georgia.
The breakthrough in the case came in September, when an Ohio State trooper pulled over the two men during a routine traffic stop. Inside their vehicle, the trooper discovered a staggering amount of stolen items. Among the evidence were more than 70 gift cards, along with numerous credit and debit cards, personal identification documents, Social Security numbers, and several cell phones. This discovery revealed the scale of the operation and the extent of their theft, confirming the suspicions of investigators that the two men were part of a nationwide crime syndicate.
Previous Arrests and Ongoing Investigations
The trooper’s discovery led to a more extensive investigation, which connected the dots between the thefts in various states. Berry and Boureanu were found to be wanted for similar crimes in multiple states, including Arizona, Indiana, and Georgia. In Georgia, the men had been arrested earlier in January on multiple counts of credit card theft and other related charges. However, despite the significant evidence against them, Berry and Boureanu were granted no bail in Georgia, underscoring the severity of their crimes.
The connection between Berry, Boureanu, and their prior arrests in different states highlighted the ongoing nature of their criminal activities. The men’s arrest in Ohio was merely the latest chapter in a series of thefts that had plagued YMCA facilities and other public places for months.
Identifying the Suspects
The two men involved in this multi-state theft operation, Abdullah Berry and Nathaniel Boureanu, were identified by local authorities as being originally from Ethiopia. Neither of them were U.S. citizens, which added another layer of complexity to their case. The two men’s criminal activities were not confined to a single geographic area, and their ability to travel across state lines made them a formidable criminal duo. Local detectives from Oconomowoc, where the first theft occurred, emphasized the importance of their investigation in uncovering the scope of the crime and connecting it to similar incidents across the country.
Authorities were not only focusing on the immediate thefts but also the broader implications of such crimes in the community. The YMCAs were intended to be safe spaces for fitness and recreation, and the thefts, which often involved unsuspecting members leaving their belongings in lockers, violated that sense of security. For gym-goers, the idea that such an operation was taking place under their noses was unsettling.
The Case Continues to Unfold
As the investigation continues, prosecutors have charged Berry and Boureanu with theft and other related crimes. The scope of their operation, however, has left law enforcement in several states with the task of piecing together how far their crime spree stretched. What initially appeared to be a single theft in a Wisconsin gym has grown into a complex web of stolen identities, fraudulent purchases, and criminal activities that spanned across the country.
While the men have been apprehended, authorities remain focused on tracking the full extent of their operation. Investigators are also working to determine how many more victims were affected by their thefts, and whether they were operating with the assistance of others.
The story of Berry and Boureanu’s theft scheme serves as a stark reminder of how organized criminals can target seemingly safe spaces, and the importance of being vigilant in protecting personal belongings in public areas. As law enforcement continues to unravel the case, it remains to be seen whether these two young men were the masterminds of a larger criminal network or simply part of a well-coordinated and widespread operation. Either way, their arrest marks a significant step toward ending a nationwide wave of thefts at YMCA facilities.