Face masks and hand sanitizer stolen from Indiana hospital

Theft shows they’re now as sought-after as drugs


Seven boxes of medical-grade isolation masks, 20 bottles of hand sanitizer, 10 containers of soap, eight bottles of air deodorizer, six packages of bleach wipes, and 50 tubs of Sani-wipes were recently stolen from an Indiana hospital - along with some morphine, according to an article on the Quartz website.

“These items are highly sought after in the secondary market due to shortages resulting from the Coronavirus pandemic and that these types of items are being sold on the secondary market at an increased price well over fair market value,” DEA task force officer Jason Homan said in a criminal complaint filed in Indiana federal court.

The theft of personal protective equipment  is a  recent phenomenon. 

Police arrested a housekeeping employee at an Arizona hospital earlier this month for allegedly swiping gloves, hand sanitizer, surgical scrubs, paper towels, face masks, bleach, and toilet paper. In Florida, police busted a physician’s assistant after hospital workers spotted him loading large amounts of PPE into his Jaguar XF. 

Read the article.

 



May 12, 2020


Topic Area: Security


Recent Posts

Regulations Take the Lead in Healthcare Restroom Design

Infection-control guidance and water management standards drive earlier planning, smarter fixtures and more resilient restroom environments.


AHN Allegheny Valley Hospital Opens Expanded Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit

Construction began in July 2025 and included 12 new inpatient rehabilitation beds, bringing the unit’s total to 29.


HSHS and Lifepoint Rehabilitation Partner on New Inpatient Rehab Hospital in Green Bay

The 40-bed hospital will be named the Hospital Sisters Health System | Rehabilitation Hospital.


Turning Facility Data Into ROI: Where Healthcare Leaders Should Start

Better data, smarter tools and small facility upgrades can drive measurable returns, guide ambulatory strategy and improve patient experience.


Sutter Health Breaks Ground on Advanced Cancer Center and Care Complex

The new center, located on Sutter’s Memorial Medical Center campus, will feature four stories and 165,000 square feet of modernized, patient-centered space.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.