The fear is that the long wave that from 2015 and until at least the pandemic when Covid confined everyone to their homes and limited access to hospitals, put most of the region’s healthcare facilities in difficulty with a series of thefts could return. which – there is no doubt – were commissioned. In short, after the theft the other night in San Vito the risk is that the “hospital gang” may have returned. The disappearance of the ultrasound probes from the armored room of the Sanvitese hospital, in fact, raised the alarm threshold again. After all, i theft of medical equipment in specialized departments they cost several hundred thousand euros per health system of Friuli Venezia Giulia and it must be said that except in one case there have never been any great successes on the investigation front.
THE BIGGEST
There is no doubt about the fact that the most important theft that occurred in a Friulian hospital occurred in 2015 at Santa Maria degli Angeli and at the time it affected the Gastroenterology service. Back then there were no strong rooms yet and someone broke into the Service at night and took away equipment, probes and other practically new equipment. Value 500 thousand euros. It was never known who stole all that stuff, but one thing is certain: it was material that could hardly be resold and therefore the theft was on commission. Like all the others who followed.
THE OTHER THEFTS
If it is true that that of Gastroenterology of Pordenone was the first and most important from an economic point of viewthen several followed and in many hospitals. In 2019 again in Pordenone and SacileOn the same night, ultrasound probes disappeared, three on the banks of the Noncello and two on the banks of the Livenza. Total value 40 thousand euros. However, it was the year before, 2018, the annus horribles. First it was the hospitals of Latisana, Palmanova and Cividale and in this case too, endoscopy probes were stolen. Total value 60 thousand euros. Then it was the turn of the Udine hospital where a very important ophthalmic device disappeared from one of the services and not only for the tests, but also for its value, 70 thousand euros. The moment also came to Trieste, Cattinara hospital, from where an entire Doppler ultrasound worth 50 thousand euros was stolen.
THE ARRESTS
Following all these thefts which evidently not only affected the Friulian healthcare system, but also that of Northern Italy, three prosecutors’ offices, Udine, Turin and Mantua, managed to defeat a gang of Colombians who had specialized in this particular type of theft. It must be said, however, that a large part of the equipment found concerned the hospitals of Pinerolo (Turin) and Mantua, with a marginal part that of Palmanova. Four people ended up in prison. Since then, however, there have been no more arrests.
THE RETURN
We have to wait until 2022 for another major theft at a hospital in the region. What disappeared on that occasion were drugs worth around 20 thousand euros from the Cattinara hospital in Trieste. It must be said, however, that the investigations led to the complaint of a nurse. And drugs were also stolen in Udine, in 2023 for a value of 15 thousand euros and also in this case a healthcare worker from the hospital was reported. In 2023 the machine for paying health tickets disappeared in Udine, but it is almost certainly a different type, like the theft of an ambulance which occurred at the San Daniele hospital. The vehicle was found shortly afterwards intact and with nothing missing inside. Now, with the theft the other night in San Vito delle Probe, the fear has returned that the hospital theft gang may have struck again.
THE SYSTEM
After the first two thefts that occurred in Pordenone in 2018 and 2019, all regional hospitals decided to place valuable equipment, in particular ultrasound probes and expensive and easily transportable instruments, in armored rooms within the departments. It was impossible to think, however, that access was reserved for a few and so the armored rooms can be accessed with the badge which is available to doctors, nurses, technicians, OSS and cleaning staff. Which is to say that there are many people who have guaranteed access. The fact that the badge was used is certain, because the door to San Vito, but the same thing goes for the other structures, it was never forced. It cannot be ruled out that the electronic key may have been stolen from the staff’s overalls or bags and then used to gain access. With the latest generation badges it is possible to establish who swiped.
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