On a quiet Tuesday morning, an unexpected visitor dropped by the Shara Ashtanga Yoga Center in downtown Edmonton.
"A woman came in. The woman we saw on video camera took our cash box and the student's wallet," said co-owner of Shara Ashtanga Yoga Center. One Laura Turnbull claimed.
Turnbull said she had more than $600 in her box of cash.
``The extra money helps us a lot. Turnbull said.
READ MORE: 7 parade bikes stolen from Edmonton Shriners steal money from children's charities
She said her studio wasn't the only one recently robbed. Eyewitnesses and surveillance video suggest the same woman may be behind many of them.
Story continues below advertisement
"Many studios in Edmonton have been affected, especially downtown yoga studios, South Side and even Sherwood Park," says Turnbull.
A yoga student, whom Global News did not identify for safety reasons, was the victim of another studio theft in July.
Wallets and mobile phones were stolen during class, and others claimed their cars were stolen. She is currently working on the impact of identity theft.
"After I got home, I was trying to cancel my credit card and check the changed password for her online account. Cash was withdrawn from two of my credit cards." said the person.
She said a yoga studio should be a place of trust. That made yoga studios an easy target, upsetting her and many others.
Story Continues Below Ad
Read More: Of Violent Theft Due to the increase, Edmonton police have called
robbed from me to control liquor store entrances across the industry," the victim said.
The suspect was arrested and charged in connection with her July theft of another yoga studio, but was conditionally released, according to police.
This recent robbery is currently under investigation.
The incident has also disrupted the Shara Ashtanga Yoga Center.
"We need to have a safer door and just encourage people to bring their belongings into the studio," Turnbull said.
More and more people in the yoga community are saying, based on what is known about theft, more needs to be done before things get worse.
© 2022 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
