Hospital security ramped up after thefts
The Toronto East General Hospital is reviewing its security protocols to ensure the safety of its most vulnerable patients after a series of shocking thefts.
“We’re going to be proposing a full risk assessment be done to see if there is anything more we can enhance i.e. more cameras, badge access for certain areas, distress alarms or looking into buying portable safes for each resident on that floor (palliative care unit),” said Rocky Prosser, manager of protection services for the hospital.
Toronto police received a flood of reports of stolen purses, wallets and other valuables from area residents as well as York and Peel regions, after detectives asked for the public’s help in finding two men who entered Toronto East General on Mar. 16 and allegedly stole $7,000 in family heirlooms from an 83-year old woman on as she laid on her deathbed.
“This isn’t the first time it’s happened,” said Detective Constable Nora Blackmore of 54 Division’s Major Crime Unit.
“In this particular incident, it was a large sum of jewellery and the fact the victim ended up passing away … made that much more interesting to the general public.”
Prosser said it’s difficult to get to the palliative care unit and other high-risk areas such as the maternity ward and operation rooms, because they’re accessible using a single set of public elevators.
“After hearing from residents and council members, it was decided a section of the floors be left open so those that wanted to visit their loved ones can do so without having the trouble of obtaining a valid ID badge for every visit,” said Prosser.
With the attention the East General case has garnered and its connection with numerous identical cases from other hospitals, Prosser said additional measures are being taken to prevent such incidences from reoccurring.
However, he said regardless of security code, patients need to inform hospital staff of any valuable on the premises.
“In this particular case, our investigation has revealed that we were unaware of the family’s possessions, they didn’t tell us,” said Prosser.
“No matter what security measures we have in place, if you have people that don’t tell you what they have on the property or on their person, how can we protect them (valuables).”
The two men, now in police custody, are suspected of targeting 12 hospitals in Toronto, York and Peel regions including North York General, Scarborough General, Scarborough Grace, St. Joseph’s, Brampton Centennial, Brampton Civic, Etobicoke General and York General, said Detective Blackmore.
Toronto resident Isaac Lewkowicz, 29, and Vaughan resident Marcos Marinoni, 26, both face 80 charges of possessing and using a credit card obtained by a crime along with a multitude of theft charges resulting in 237 charges in total.
