Man, 47, Arrested for Allegedly Stealing More Than $100K of Medical Equipment

RANCHO MIRAGE (CNS) - A San Jacinto man accused of stealing more than
$100,000 worth of medical equipment was arrested, authorities said today.
  

Jason Brauner, 47, was arrested and booked into Benoit Detention
Center in Indio on Wednesday on suspicion of grand theft, burglary and
possession of stolen property.
  

His bail was set at $100,000.
  

On July 9, deputies responded to a call shortly after 3:30 p.m.
regarding theft of medical equipment in the 35000 block of Bob Hope Drive,
according to Riverside County Sheriff's Sgt. Bryan Whitley.
  

Authorities identified Brauner as the suspect who allegedly stole more
than $100,000 more than three separate times during June and July.
  

Whitley said Brauner stole surgical equipments and skin grafts by
disguising as a hospital staff member wearing blue scrubs and a surgical mask.
  

On Wednesday, San Diego deputies conducted a traffic stop in Del Mar,
where Brauner was detained without incident. A subsequent search of his vehicle
revealed stolen medical equipment and hospital apparel, Whitley said.
  

A search warrant served at his residence in the 1400 block of Potomac
Circle in San Jacinto Wednesday led to the recovery of additional stolen
medical supplies valued between $10,000 and $25,000.
  

According to Whitley, hospitals in Loma Linda and Newport Beach were
targeted for similar thefts, and that ``coordinated efforts with investigators
in those jurisdictions have identified Brauner as a suspect in those cases as
well.''
  

``There may be additional victims,'' the department said.
  

The investigation was ongoing, and anyone with additional information
about the thefts was urged to contact Deputy Marco Castaneda at 760-836-1600.

  

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