PENNSYLVANIA COMPUTERS STOLEN Police say man stole Fountain Hill hospital's computers to feed drug habit -- themorningcall.com:

Police say man stole Fountain Hill hospital's computers to feed drug habit

April 11, 2009

A Bethlehem man admitted breaking into a hospital storage closet and stealing electronic equipment to feed his drug habit, Fountain Hill police said in an arrest affidavit.

Jesse Nunez, 37, of 518 Fiot St. broke into the basement closet at St. Luke's Hospital-Fountain Hill on three occasions and stole computer equipment valued at about $6,600, police said. A policeman saw Nunez walking in Bethlehem and arrested him based on a description of the thief, leading Nunez to admit stealing the items and claiming he was ''dope sick,'' according to the affidavit.

Nunez was charged with burglary, trespass, theft and receiving stolen property. Hospital spokeswoman Sue Ross said the stolen equipment contained no medical records.

''There were absolutely no hard drives taken, only monitors. So no information was lost or stolen,'' Ross said.

The affidavit says:

Hospital security contacted police March 27, April 2 and Wednesday and told them about the thefts, which were caught on security camera. The thief used a screwdriver to pry open the closet door and take the equipment.

An officer was driving west on Broadway about 10:10 a.m. Wednesday when he noticed Nunez -- who fit the description of the man caught on tape stealing from the hospital -- walking south on Fiot Street. The officer arrested Nunez and took him to police headquarters.

Nunez admitted stealing the equipment and said he had three monitors at home. He said he couldn't sell them because they were broken.

Nunez claimed he only took five computers from the hospital and said he did so to sell them for money.

Police went to Nunez's home and recovered two empty computer boxes, one of which had a label addressed to St. Luke's Hospital, and two computer monitors.

Slatington District Judge Rod Beck arraigned Nunez on Wednesday and sent him to Lehigh County Prison under $40,000 bail.