AZ Thief Disguised As Delivery Driver Steals Coronavirus Test Kits From Tucson Med Center

TUCSON, AZ. (THECOUNT) — According to a Facebook post from the Tucson Police Department, surveillance video captured a bearded man apparently disguised as a delivery driver, walking into a health center and escaping with approximately 30 COVID-19 test kits.

Police are now are asking for the public’s help identifying the man who reportedly stole the COVID-19 test kits from the El Rio Health for unknown reasons.

The theft occurred at the El Rio Health Center at 839 West Congress Street just before 8 p.m.

At the time, employees were getting ready to close the facility. Staff didn’t notice the missing test kits until the next morning, TPD said.

The suspect is described as a male in his 30s, between 5’9″ and 5’11” with a large build. He has a full beard, with some greying, and left the scene in a reddish-colored Dodge Charger, or similar vehicle.

Police emphasized that the tests are essentially useless without a fully equipped lab, and professional staff to interpret the results. Home test kits for the coronavirus do not exist, and police say anyone who talks to someone trying to sell the kits should contact law enforcement, reports ABC15.

The stolen kits were already replaced at the El Rio Health Center, but the stolen kits would help public health officials in future testing efforts.

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Geo quick facts: Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States, and is home to the University of Arizona. The 2010 United States Census put the population at 520,116, while the 2015 estimated population of the entire Tucson metropolitan statistical area was 980,263 – Wikipedia.