Police have charged a man over a brazen drugs heist at St Vincent’s Private Hospital in East Melbourne.
It is alleged that a man posing as a surgeon entered the hospital in Grey Street about 3pm on June 5 and asked nurses in a theatre medication room to supply him with strong anaesthetic.
He was allegedly given two boxes of propofol, a short-acting intravenously administered anaesthetic.
Hospital orderlies became suspicious after finding surgical scrubs and a hospital ID badge dumped in the ward.
The two nurses later realised they did not recognise the doctor.
St Vincent’s CEO Ian Grisold said a man went to the hospital on Friday and allegedly showed legitimate agency nursing identification to gain access to the hospital theatre area.
“Staff became suspicious and alerted security,” he said.
“The man was apprehended and police were called immediately.
“The man was taken into police custody.
“We believe this is the same person who gained unauthorised entry to the hospital last week and [allegedly] stole an anaesthetic drug.”
Melbourne crime investigation unit detectives have charged a Brunswick man, 42, with burglary and theft.
He has been bailed to front the Melbourne Magistrates Court on October 16.