Looting spree at Vienna General Hospital

Fake surgical assistant on the move as a trick thief

The AKH has already stepped up its security measures because of the new scam.(Bild: Krone KREATIV/Reinhard Holl, stock.adobe.com)

Not everyone who wears a surgical gown, goggles, face mask and gloves in hospital has the well-being of patients in mind, but at least in one documented case their valuables. A theft at Vienna General Hospital sets alarm bells ringing there and with the police.

Mr. M. was in the washing area of his single-bed room at Vienna General Hospital at the end of September when a man in full surgical gear suddenly stormed in. He addressed the elderly patient by name and explained that he had been diagnosed with a serious infection based on his findings and would be transferred to the quarantine ward in the next 15 minutes. "Leave everything. If you give me your valuables, I can take them over to the other ward," he added.

Heirloom handed over in good faith
Mr. M. did as he was advised - and waited in his room for the transfer. This never happened, of course, because he did not have a threatening infection, but had become the victim of a cunning trickster. He had taken a gold chain worth around 7,000 euros from Mr. M., which the retired jeweller had bought 40 years ago and had worn ever since. "My son should have inherited it," he sighs as he describes the incident to the "Krone".

Mr. M. wants to warn other patients to be careful with his story.(Bild: privat)

Luckily for Mr. Ms., he had kept all his remaining valuables in the hospital's safe deposit box, as all patients are strongly advised to do. In retrospect, the 87-year-old is annoyed with himself that he immediately believed the supposed surgical assistant: "If you're as old as I am ... I was just scared." The police and the AKH confirm the course of events.

Police and AKH alarmed by new scam
The hospital reacted promptly: patients have since been reminded - in addition to the usual reminders to be careful, for example in the admission brochure - to look out for the hospital ID card worn by real staff in the event of unexpected incidents. Security staff rounds have been increased. However, at least the theft is only "an unfortunate isolated incident".

The inquiries and investigations are ongoing. However, there has not been an increase in thefts with this modus operandi.

Landespolizeidirektion Wien

The theft scam is probably new, as no other such incidents have been reported in Vienna to date, according to the police. Investigations are ongoing, but one thing is already certain: the thief is likely to have obtained the clothing beforehand, possibly by ordering it online. Firstly, according to Mr. M.'s descriptions, it looked different from the AKH uniforms, and secondly, uniforms are only issued and returned in locked areas at the AKH.

The thief had obviously deliberately chosen a single room. This enabled him to address the victim by name immediately, thus building trust and also to be reasonably sure that there would be no other witnesses. In addition, he probably thought to himself about patients in single rooms, "they have something", suspects Mr. M. He has nothing but contempt for the thief: "The boarding house is so small anyway - it's so cheeky to pick on old people like that."