An 87-year-old woman, Birgitta Segring, had her valuable necklace stolen while at Danderyd Hospital for a hip injury. Despite reporting the theft, she has received no updates from the police or hospital. The incident is part of a larger concern over thefts at the hospital, prompting the establishment of a support line for affected patients.
Elderly Woman's Necklace Stolen at Danderyd Hospital Amid Theft Concerns
Elderly Woman's Necklace Stolen at Danderyd Hospital Amid Theft Concerns
Birgitta Segring, 87, broke her hip and was taken to Danderyd Hospital for an X-ray. There, someone stole her necklace.
– It's terrible that people are deceived of their belongings while in the hospital, says Birgitta.
It was Midsummer 2024, and 87-year-old Birgitta was carrying dishes with her friend when she slipped on the grass and fell backward.
She was taken to Danderyd Hospital, heavily medicated with morphine, and sedated. She remembers the staff removing her necklace before the X-ray, and she hasn't seen it since.
– It's terrible that people are deceived of their belongings while in the hospital. It's absolutely horrible, says Birgitta.
Necklace with Diamond and Emeralds
Birgitta received the necklace as a 50th birthday gift from her mother. She describes the jewelry as white gold, valued at several thousand kronor. According to the police report, it is a Venetian chain with a diamond and two emeralds of 0.5 and 1 carat, respectively.
Birgitta called the hospital when she realized the necklace was missing, but was told to check if it was mentioned in her medical records. It wasn't.
– They just say no. They have no idea about anything, she says.
She reported the incident, but a year later, she has heard nothing from the police or the hospital.
According to Ellinor Mosel from Danderyd Hospital's press service, they do not comment on individual patient cases.
– We cannot answer why an individual has not received help; once it goes to the police, it leaves us, she says.
Support Line Established After Reports of Theft Wave
Earlier this year, Aftonbladet reported a crime wave at Danderyd Hospital, with about 60 people claiming they lost valuables after their stay.
According to the hospital's statistics, there is no clear increase in suspected thefts among patients – the number has been around twenty cases each year.
Following the reports, the hospital established a special phone line for patients to seek help if they suspect their belongings were stolen.
– Since there was so much writing about it, we thought other patients might be worried and want to reach out. It's mainly for those who need guidance and want to know what to do if they've lost something.
Valuables Should Be Locked Away
According to Ellinor Mosel, Danderyd Hospital works proactively to ensure patients' belongings are not lost.
– We take this very seriously, and we have an active effort to clarify guidelines regarding lost valuables. One should not feel any worry about bringing valuables to the hospital, she says.
According to the hospital's routine, staff should take care of patients' valuables and place them in transparent plastic bags labeled with the patient's name, Ellinor Mosel explains. The bags are then placed in locked cabinets at the hospital.
– And I believe everyone follows the routines.
Police Investigate Connections Between Thefts
During the spring, the police have worked with Danderyd Hospital to map the thefts.
– In this work, we have continued with ten cases we are investigating further to see if we can make progress – we are not finished in all parts, says Carina Skagerlind from the police media center in Stockholm.
While the work has been ongoing, new cases of thefts at the hospital have emerged.
– We are, of course, keeping a close eye on how crime develops, and recently we have seen nearly ten reports linked to the hospital in various ways.
However, the police see no connection between the thefts of patients' valuables, other than the location where the items were lost.
– Different items have been stolen, and there is no common method.
The police have no suspects in any of the cases yet.