Police are investigating the case of a 78-year-old patient who had personal items stolen from her while in her room at SSM DePaul Health Center in Bridgeton, Mo., according to a FOX2 St. Louis report.
The patient, Velma Galimore, and her daughter told investigators that the incident occurred on Sunday morning during a five-day hospital stay.
Ms. Galimore's daughter, Marty Dixson, reported a woman posing as a hospital employee entered her mother's room and removed the jewelry from the patient, claiming it had to go because of a medical procedure. Ms. Dixson said the woman removed two rings and two bracelets from Ms. Galimore, slipping them into a hospital glove. The woman also took the patient's purse, according to the report.
Bridgeton police told FOX2 they are working with the hospital to review video surveillance.
In response to the incident, SSM DePaul Health Center released the following statement:
"Any report of crime on our premises is immediately investigated by our security team in conjunction with local police. As soon as we learned of this matter, we notified the Bridgeton Police. We are currently reviewing security footage and are fully cooperating with authorities. Patient safety and security is always our top priority and we sincerely regret any distress this may have caused the patient."
The hospital also asked anyone with information regarding the matter to contact the Bridgeton Police.
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