The Brioude radiology practice, of the CIM43 imaging group, was the target of an ultrasound machine theft during the night of Sunday 24 to Monday 25 November.
“When I arrived at 7:40 a.m., the box that mounts the lab grill had been torn off. I couldn't get in… I then walked past the windows on the side of the building. One was wide open with the blind The other one, further back, had the blind torn off and glass was scattered everywhere… I called the gendarmes and Dr. Chometon who was not working that day. When he arrived, he saw that there. 'ultrasound machine had been stolen…”
A little less than a week after those in Puy-en-Velay and Yssingeaux, the Brivadoi radiology practice of the CIM43 medical imaging group was the target of a burglary, during the night from Sunday to Monday.
A classic flight
It was one of the secretaries who discovered the break-in. The site manager, Dr. Thierry Chometon, did not hide his weariness this Wednesday. “We were already the victim of a theft last week, at my associates in Puy-en-Velay. There were thefts a few months ago in Puy-de-Dôme… These are orders, they is apparently quite classic. It had never happened to me before. Not anymore. Ultrasound machines, devices which are worth money (between 50,000 and 70,000 €), are mobile and weigh 60 to 70,000 €. 70 kg. From what I understand, the thieves take them to eastern countries. They cross the borders at night after the theft.
The firm obviously filed a complaint.
Three ultrasound machines stolen from several radiology centers in Haute-Loire
And after observations, the doctor discovered more details about the different stages of the theft: “They broke the gate control box and tried to take control of it with the wires. But it didn't open. And they shut down everything. They broke a shutter and then a window to get in. Once inside, they tried to figure out how to get out with the ultrasound machine. We had electric shutters that didn't open. disconnected. They wanted to pass. through a French window, but the shutter remained closed Finally, they opened a manual shutter and took the ultrasound machine out of the window, so they didn't come back. through the broken window.”
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Le Puy and Yssingeaux last week
A theft which inevitably has an impact. “This will harm a lot of people,” regrets Dr. Chometon. “To the person who owns the ultrasound machine, certainly, but especially to the patients. All appointments are canceled until new equipment arrives.”
Thefts of the same type were committed in 2019
In Puy, a similar theft was committed at the Henri-Dunant center, which adjoins the Bon Secours clinic, in one of the CIM 43 offices, on the night of Wednesday November 20 to Thursday November 21. The thieves then tried to enter the one located near Intermarché, in Aiguilhe. Interrupted or having failed to return, they left the scene to operate again at the Cardioparc practice in Yssingeaux. “These are thefts that are done in three minutes when they find the ultrasound machine,” notes Dr. Chometon, who was able to view surveillance videos. A police investigation is underway.
Pierre Hébrard
