After two credit card thefts at Kettering Health Network facilities, the healthcare provider is reminding employees to not leave purses and wallets unattended.
The thefts were at Sycamore Medical Center in Miamisburg and a facility in Huber Heights. In both cases, only staff areas were affected.
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“In the last couple weeks we’ve had several thefts in southwest Ohio and eastern Indiana, not specifically all Kettering Health Network related, from offices of employees that are open to the public,” Tom Thompson, network executive director for police and public safety, said Friday.
“Within an hour after wallets are stolen from purses, usually gift cards have been bought at area stores and they’re off running,” he said.
Thompson said the Kettering Health Network has been in contact with area law enforcement offices and believes the thefts could be part of a possible crime ring.
“We’re starting to think that it could be a certain ring of individuals who are targeting public areas, which around the holidays is not uncommon,” he said.
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A credit card theft also was reported at Cardiologist Specialists of Dayton in Washington Twp. on Nov. 11, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.
The victim told deputies her wallet was taken from her purse, which was behind the receptionist’s desk, according to a Facebook post from the sheriff’s office.
The credit cards were used at area stores.
Surveillance cameras showed a woman believed to have used the stolen credit cards. She was picked up by another person in a white car.
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Anyone with information about the Washington Twp. theft should call Detective Egloff at 937-432-2757.
With the holidays approaching, Thompson said it’s not uncommon for Kettering Health to issue a reminder to staff how to stay safe — at the office and at home.
“I don’t think there’s a workplace in the country that’s immune to theft,” he said. “If you give people easy access to commit a theft, no matter where you are, you run the risk of people doing that.”