Patient frustrated at police investigation into Rotherham hospital theft

A HOSPITAL patient who had £195 stolen while she was unconscious in A&E said she was frustrated with the police investigation.
Sheena GilmartinSheena Gilmartin
Sheena Gilmartin

A HOSPITAL patient who had £195 stolen while she was unconscious in A&E said she was frustrated with the police investigation.

Sheena Gilmartin spent the night at Rotherham Hospital in August after collapsing at home.

But while she was passed out in the emergency department, someone stole the contents of her purse and her birth certificate.

Mum of five Ms Gilmartin, of Goosebutt Street, Parkgate, said: “I was unconscious for about an hour in hospital and during that time my possessions have been logged by the staff.

“By the time I woke up, I found this cash had gone, along with my birth certificate.

“The police seem to have closed the case.

“There are cameras everywhere, so they must be able to do something.

“You would have thought they would have reviewed security but now I’ve gone they don’t seem too bothered.”

Ms Gilmartin, who suffers from epilepsy and has previously suffered a stroke, said the stress caused by the theft had harmed her health.

A police spokeswoman confirmed officers had investigated the theft but said, with no CCTV of the incident to review, there were no more lines of inquiry and the case had been “filed” pending any further information coming to light. 

She added: “Sometime between 5pm and 10pm on Thursday, August 10, it is reported that a 47-year-old woman had cash and her birth certificate taken from her handbag while in Rotherham Hospital on Moorgate Road.

“Police are keen to hear from anyone who has any information about the theft. 

“If you can help, please call 101 quoting reference C/104818/2017.”

A Rotherham Hospital spokeswoman said: “We are aware of this incident and are cooperating fully with the police in their investigation.”