The General Directorate of Internal Security Forces - Public Relations Division announced that "information was received regarding an unknown individual stealing medical equipment, phones, and cash from hospitals, with the latest incident occurring on June 24, 2024. An unidentified person wearing a mask and a black hat entered a hospital in the Baabda area and stole a medical device, a 'monitor', from one of the rooms, valued at approximately ten thousand US dollars." The directorate added in a statement: "Following this, the specialized units began their field and investigative procedures to uncover the identity of the perpetrator. As a result of extensive investigations and inquiries, the Information Branch identified the individual as A.R. (born in 1990, Palestinian), who has a previous criminal record for theft from hospitals."
It continued: "On July 4, 2024, following careful surveillance, one of the division's patrols arrested him in the Sin El Fil area inside a medical equipment facility belonging to B.K. (born in 1974, Lebanese), who was also arrested. During the search of the facility, three medical devices were seized, and a stolen mobile phone was found in the possession of the first individual.
During the investigation with A.R., he confessed to committing several thefts from ten hospitals: Rafik Hariri, Al-Hayat, Karantina, Middle East, Bahman, Mar Youssef, Jezzine Governmental, the Greeks, San Charles, and Haroun, where he would enter and roam between the floors, monitoring the rooms to ensure they were empty before stealing available medical equipment, mobile phones, and cash. He added that he sold the stolen phones at the Sabra camp, and some of the medical equipment was sold to the second individual and some to another person who owns a medical equipment shop in the Dahyeh area.
As a result of the follow-up, the branch managed to identify the latter individual known as A.Y. (born in 1994, Lebanese), who was summoned for questioning. During the investigation with B.K. and A.Y., they admitted to purchasing the medical equipment from A.R. without knowing it was stolen, and A.Y. handed over all the equipment he bought from him, a total of six items."
The statement confirmed that "legal actions were taken against A.R. and he was referred to the appropriate authority. The medical equipment was returned to the aforementioned hospitals along with one mobile phone to its owner, based on the judiciary's directives."
