Santiago.- Patient and family safety is once again being questioned following reports of a robbery that occurred overnight inside the Rafael Castro Peripheral Hospital, located in West Santiago, where an unidentified individual allegedly entered a room dressed as a doctor and stole several cell phones while people were sleeping.
The incident, according to Gladys Hiraldo, occurred around 3:45 in the morning, when she was accompanying her daughter, who remains admitted to the hospital.
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Hiraldo explained that he did not notice the moment when the individual allegedly entered the room. Subsequently, according to his account, they were informed that the suspect had been seen leaving the hospital, apparently wearing clothing that would have allowed him to pose as medical staff.
The complainant indicated that the situation was discovered when patients and family members realized that several cell phones had gone missing. Given what happened, they went to the emergency area in search of assistance and to report what had occurred inside the health center.
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Hiraldo questioned the existing surveillance conditions at the hospital and considered it worrying that an outsider could move through its facilities during the early morning hours without being detected by security personnel.
The woman explained that both patients and their relatives come to the healthcare center with the expectation of having a safe environment, especially during the night hours, when many remain asleep in the rooms.
One of the stolen phones represents, as Hiraldo explained, a considerable loss for her family due to their economic limitations. The complainant stated that they currently do not have sufficient resources to acquire a new device.
“We do not have the money to buy another cell phone,” expressed the woman, who requested that the case be investigated and that greater controls be established to prevent similar situations from happening again.
The complainant also questioned how the alleged perpetrator could have managed to access a patient room without raising suspicion and subsequently leave the hospital without, according to her version, being detained or identified.
The case has generated concern among patients and family members who remain at the healthcare facility, who are demanding greater security measures to protect both the admitted individuals and their belongings.
Hospital warns about surveillance
Hiraldo asked the corresponding authorities to review the surveillance and access control mechanisms used in the hospital, especially during the early morning hours, when the robbery allegedly took place.
Likewise, he requested that the security cameras installed in the different areas of the health center be verified, in case there are records that allow identifying the indicated individual and establishing the route they would have used to enter and exit the facilities.
So far, the identity of the alleged perpetrator has not been publicly reported, nor has it been confirmed whether the authorities have managed to recover the stolen cell phones.
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It has also not been officially established whether the individual actually wore clothing corresponding to medical personnel or if it was an appearance used to avoid suspicion within the hospital.
The relatives hope that the incident will be clarified and that, based on the investigation, the circumstances under which the robbery occurred and the possible responsibilities can be determined.
The event brings back to the table the importance of reinforcing security in healthcare centers, where patients and their companions remain for long periods and, in many cases, must spend the night in the hospital facilities.
While awaiting further details on the investigation, those affected reiterated their call for authorities to adopt measures that guarantee the safety of those who visit the health center and prevent other patients from becoming victims of similar incidents.
