A mother and son were arrested last week for allegedly stealing personal property from lockers at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA and other area fitness centers.

Abeni Brown, 40, and her 18-year-old son, Aaron, have been charged with multiple counts of theft and fraud related crimes related to the incident, according to the Niles Police Department.

Police say the two were caught in the act on March 16 at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA due to the alertness of YMCA staff, who alerted police of possible criminal activity.

According to police, an investigation found that Abeni had been stealing personal property from lockers at the Niles-Buchanan YMCA and other fitness centers across Michigan, Indiana and Illinois over the course of several months.

When Abeni stole personal property from the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, she solicited help from her son, Aaron, according to police.

Det. Chad Mitchell, of the Niles Police Department, estimates that Abeni stole or fraudulently obtained money and merchandise valued at more than $20,000 in the last several months.

Abeni was charged with criminal enterprise, uttering and publishing, larceny in a building and possession of burglary tools.

Aaron was charged with larceny in a building and conspiracy to commit larceny.

Police said Aaron posted bond and Abeni remains in the Berrien County Jail on $15,000 bond.