A portable ultrasound machine was discharged from the NorthShore Evanston Hospital, at 2650 Ridge Ave., on Friday. A man posing as a vendor allegedly stole the $75,000 piece of equipment, Evanston Police Department spokesperson Ryan Glew said.
Glew said the man approached the hospital’s security podium at approximately 6:40 p.m. and identified himself as a vendor but failed to produce identification. The suspect then continued toward the fetal health unit where he met a female who directed him to the ultrasound machine. The female is a suspected accomplice, Glew said.
Upon retrieving the ultrasound machine, the man made his way to the emergency room where he pushed the equipment down the ambulance bay ramp, according to Glew. Hospital staff alerted its security team at this time but when the hospital security team arrived, the suspect wasn’t located. Hospital security told Evanston Police that a black semi-truck with a trailer was headed toward Central Street and headed westbound at approximately 7:05 p.m.
Further investigation showed the ultrasound had no active repair or maintenance tickets making the vendor’s legitimacy unlikely, Glew said. Hospital security then decided to report it as a theft and Evanston Police Department personnel arrived three hours after the incident occurred.
Glew said no arrests have been made and didn’t disclose any suspects, but said hospital staff recovered footage showing both the male and female suspects. The roughly 60-year-old male suspect is roughly 5′ 5” to 5′ 7” with an estimated weight of 150 to 180 pounds. EPD describes the female suspect to be between 25 and 45 years old at roughly 5′ 5” to 5′ 7” with an estimated weight of 150 to 180 pounds.
EPD’s investigation is still in progress.
Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.