Jerry O'Connell reported that his wallet and phone were taken while he attended a yoga class at a Los Angeles studio, saying security footage later showed a woman reach into a pair of shoes where he had stashed his belongings. Los Angeles Police Department officials took a theft report, and the actor and television host said the woman—whom he dubbed the "yoga bandit"—left the studio with his items shortly after the session.
O'Connell, 51, told People that he had placed his wallet and phone inside an old pair of sneakers before class, a habit he said he has followed for more than 100 sessions. He said the woman asked to use the restroom and later claimed she was late to class; after the session ended his cash, phone and other items were missing. NBC reported that investigators reviewed studio security footage and identified a woman in yoga attire, with pigtails and a yoga mat, bending down by the shoes and removing the items.
According to O'Connell, the woman immediately used his cards, charging nearly $500 at a department store and about $100 at a gas station, prompting him to work with his card issuer; he said American Express had already issued a replacement. He also described several sentimental items that were lost, including an old photograph of his wife Rebecca Romijn, a four-leaf clover given to him by actor Jack McBrayer, a $2 bill he acquired while filming Stand By Me, his grandfather's obituary and Powerball tickets he had kept in the wallet.
O'Connell told People police said the suspect had visited the studio previously to case it and had targeted other studios, according to his account. He said he reported the incident to the front desk after class, speaking quietly because he wished to preserve the studio's calm environment. The actor added that his Android phone's tracking service did not help locate the device.
The theft did not deter O'Connell from returning to the studio. He said he resumed classes and credited his instructor, Zack, for helping his practice, noting he was able to touch his toes. O'Connell frequently attends the studio with his wife, Romijn; the couple has been married 18 years and share two children.
Los Angeles police confirmed they took a theft report but provided no immediate public update on any arrest. Security-camera descriptions of the suspect and the details O'Connell provided, including the time of the charges and the items taken, form the basis of the investigation as reported by People and NBC. O'Connell's account underscores how small personal items left in communal spaces can become the target of thefts, and it prompted the actor to publicize the incident while continuing his regular practice.
