The Sunday News
Plumtree Correspondent
FIVE hundred HIV/Aids test kits were stolen from the Plumtree District Hospital laboratory, police have said. The culprit, who is still at large, is suspected to have gained access into the storage room by using a duplicate key to unlock the door. Plumtree district medical officer Dr Langalokusa Sibanda said lab workers discovered that some HIV test kits were missing last Tuesday morning.
“I can confirm that five boxes of HIV test kits with each containing 100 went missing from the laboratory.
“The lab was locked and secured but it appears someone was able to gain access.
“We are carrying out investigations to try and find out how and who stole these kits. The matter has been reported to the Provincial Medical Director as well as to the police,” said Dr Sibanda.
A source at the clinic said the culprit was suspected to have used a key to enter the laboratory.
“We suspect that the break-in was a result of an inside job. The culprit did not force their way into the laboratory but it appears a duplicate key was used.
“The person who stole the kits appears to have unlocked the door and locked it after committing the offence thereby making it difficult to immediately realise that someone had entered illegally,” said the source.
“The total value of the stolen kits is $2 000. We suspect that whoever stole these kits intends to sell them somewhere.”
Matabeleland South acting provincial police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nkosilathi Sibanda confirmed the incident.
“I can confirm that we are handling a case of unlawful entry and theft at the Plumtree District Hospital.
“Investigations have shown that the test kits were stolen sometime from March 29 and March 31.
“We have not made any arrests so far but investigations are still in progress,” he said.
