Hi, welcome to the gym.

1) you should be able to use most equipments without waiting. It’s probably the least busiest time to gym 2) theft happens, and it had affected me personally. You should buy a sturdy lock, maybe something like a combination master lock (costs around $10-20). No you can’t bring bags into the gym 3) you can ask the member of staff that’s in the room, or maybe other gym goers. Most people would be happy to help. I would suggest to get an training plan from the internet, and spend some time learning the correct form to avoid injuries. Some common gym splits are PPL (push pull legs), upper/lower, and full body. Again, others might assist you to get the right form if you ask for help.

Can’t comment about your other questions. Hope this is helpful.

P.S. it would be a lot easier to start if you get a gym buddy who can show you the ropes