Hospital thieves 'predators': security chief
Last Updated: Thursday, March 18, 2010 | 11:24 AM ET
CBC News
Toronto police say these men are suspected of robbing patients at Toronto East General Hospital. (Toronto Police Service) Security officials at Toronto East General Hospital say they are "disgusted" after a dying patient was robbed of her valuables.
Police are looking for two suspects, who appear to have roamed the floors and through the rooms of some of the sickest patients, helping themselves to their belongings.
The men, whose images were captured by security cameras, searched through rooms in the palliative care unit on Tuesday evening.
The woman robbed was in her 70s and lying unconscious in her bed, police said.
"The family members were in her room," said police Const. Tony Vella. "They walk out of her room — just for a matter of minutes — the two men walk into her room and take her jewelry [valued at] approximately $7,000."
Just a few hours later the woman died.
Officials at East General Hospital expressed outrage.
"When you take a look at it, we're dealing with, guys that are, in my opinion, predators," said Rocky Prosser, head of security at East General. "They're preying on the sick, the dying and the elderly, and this is a despicable act."
Police said the woman had kept her jewelry with her because her home had been robbed and she was concerned for the safety of her valuables.
The hospital said it will review security, but Prosser said there are more than 200 security cameras inside the facility and he feels it is safe.
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