The “hospital gang”, suspected of having carried out raids on high-tech equipment in several French establishments, has been completely dismantled.
This is at least what the police hope after the arrest on Wednesday in Drancy (Seine-Saint-Denis) of the last alleged member of this "team".
His accomplices, four men and a woman, had already been arrested on November 24 by the Luxembourg police in a youth hostel in the Grand Duchy.
A dragnet which occurred a few days after a theft of medical equipment in a polyclinic in Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle).
According to the judicial authorities, 18 endoscopy devices (including a mini-camera to monitor surgical operations) at 30,000 euros each had been stolen.
Apparently, this "coup" was far from being the first.
The judicial police of Seine-Saint-Denis followed this lead until the arrest of this new member suspected of being involved in five thefts which occurred between October 19 and November 4 in the hospitals of Bobigny (Seine-Saint- Denis), Melun (Seine-et-Marne), Amiens (Somme) and Lille (Nord) twice for the latter.
The damage for these four establishments would amount to nearly one million euros.
Confused by video surveillance and telephony
According to a source close to the investigation, the last accused, a 31-year-old Colombian, was confused thanks to a “reconciliation and identification by video and telephone.
“He was to be referred Thursday for an indictment and placement in pre-trial detention.
This is what had happened to his alleged accomplices.
It is unclear what court decision was ultimately made.
It is also not known whether the medical equipment was eventually found.
The prosecution was not able to answer us this Sunday.
For decades, Colombian gangs, specializing in highly targeted burglaries, have been coming to Europe to raid medical equipment.
The loot can be colossal provided you have contacts for resale.
For hospitals, these thefts obviously represent enormous losses.
In Bobigny, the damage amounted to 150,000 euros.
In Melun, the bill was even higher: more than 400,000 euros for the theft of 18 endoscopes.
“For us, it's a cold shower, told us Dominique Peljak, the director of the Seine-et-Marnais establishment.
We are here to save people, to heal them.
But the hospital can fall victim to people stealing medical equipment.
These thieves first attack patients who need an examination”.
After the flight, 95% of scheduled endoscopies in Melun had to be postponed.
