Pearland Police Announce Arrest in Multi-County Gym Theft and Credit Card Fraud Scheme
PEARLAND, Texas — A Houston man has been arrested following a seven-month investigation into a series of vehicle burglaries, thefts, and credit card fraud cases targeting gym patrons across multiple Texas counties, according to the Pearland Police Department.
Investigators identified the suspect as Azeez Adigun Aweda of Houston.
According to police, the Pearland Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit determined that Aweda targeted victims at gym facilities by stealing wallets and credit cards from lockers at locations including LA Fitness and EOS Fitness centers.
Authorities said Aweda then used disguises, including changes of clothing, masks, and even a fake limp, while conducting fraudulent purchases at HEB stores in multiple cities.
Investigators said surveillance footage and transaction records linked Aweda to repeated offenses in Pearland, League City, Spring, Pasadena, Webster, and Houston.
During a traffic stop conducted by the League City Police Department, officers recovered multiple stolen credit cards, gift cards, disguises, stolen mail, bolt cutters, and a magnetic stripe card reader allegedly used for card cloning.
According to police, the investigation found that Aweda fraudulently possessed and used 24 credit cards belonging to nine separate victims as part of what investigators described as a deliberate and organized criminal operation.
Aweda was arrested and charged with Fraudulent Use or Possession of Credit Card or Debit Card Information involving 10 or more but fewer than 50 items, a second-degree felony.
Investigators believe additional victims may exist.
Police are asking anyone who visited an LA Fitness or EOS Fitness location in the Pearland or Houston area between October 2025 and April 2026 and later discovered unauthorized HEB transactions on their credit cards to contact the Pearland Police Department Criminal Investigation Tip Line at 281-997-4211.
The Pearland Police Department also credited the League City Police Department for assisting with the investigation.
