Medical thefts blamed on Colombian crime rings

Greek authorities say Colombian organised crime rings were behind a series of heists targeting costly medical diagnostic equipment from hospitals in Greece and another 11 European countries.

Police say three Colombian suspects have been identified in connection with last month’s four thefts in Greece. Four out of about a dozen stolen pieces of equipment, worth around £434,000, have been recovered in Colombia.

There were similar thefts in the past four years in France, Germany, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Croatia and the Czech Republic.