RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — A 47-year-old Southern California man is behind bars after allegedly stealing more than $100,000 worth of surgical equipment and skin grafts from three different hospitals. The alleged scheme spanned multiple cities before investigators used modern technology to track down the suspect.
The suspect, Jason Brauner, didn’t break windows or pick locks. Instead, he allegedly walked into the hospitals wearing blue scrubs and a surgical mask to access restricted areas without raising suspicion, reports NBC Los Angeles.
The theft spree took place over two months, with incidents reported at hospitals in Rancho Mirage, Loma Linda, and Newport Beach in June and July.
Month-Long Hospital Theft Investigation
The case began on July 9 when Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage reported stolen equipment and first identified Brauner as a suspect. From there, detectives launched an investigation involving modern law enforcement techniques.
Investigators turned to cellphone tower data to trace the suspect’s movements, which led them to Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach on August 6, reports Gizmodo. Security cameras at the facility reportedly captured footage of someone taking hospital equipment, providing crucial visual evidence…