Medicos turn detectives at LRH

by Bharatha Malawaraarachchi

Members of the Country's Medical Profession were thrust into the role of detectives yesterday amidst a spate of break-ins into their vehicles while being parked at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) premises. The well-organised gang of thieves had been picking on vehicles of doctors and other medical staff using false keys to open their doors and remove accessories like stereos.

The breakthrough came when a thief unaware he was being watched by an alert medical staff was caught in the act of breaking into yet another vehicle of a doctor.

The vehicle belonging to Dr. Anuruddha Padeniya attached to the LRH was parked at the hospital space allotted to him . The thief had opened the door using the false key and attempted to steal what was in the vehicle .

Unknown to him his act was being observed by two doctors from the upper storey . Doctors along with health workers then rushed to the spot to grab their man.

It was only last week, a cassette player in Dr. Padeniya's car was removed while being parked at the same place. "This has been going on for a long period and many valuables belonging to the doctors, health workers and patients have been stolen by an apparently a well-organised gang," Dr. Padeniya told the Daily News.

He said cellular phones, car cassettes, and other valuable items and even money belonging to doctors have been stolen while they were on duty treating the patients.

Dr. Padeniya said the culprits are operating in a well-organised manner. "Even in this particular instance, one culprit had diverted the attention of the security personnel while the other was operating on my car."

Dr. Padeniya stressed that tight security should be provided to the LRH, the main children's hospital.

"We have brought this matter to the attention of the authorities several times. It is now high time that proper action was taken."

Meanwhile, Government Medical Officers Association's Secretary Dr. Uditha Herath said they have brought this matter to the notice of the IGP.