Thief targets hospital patients

ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) - A man discharged from the emergency room at St. Vincent Anderson Regional Hospital Wednesday morning didn't leave without attempting to pilfer some souvenirs, police said.

24-Hour News 8 news partner The Herald Bulletin reports Jacob H. Tomlinson, 21, of Anderson, was arrested after he was trying to leave with hospital equipment and pills from another room. According to a probable cause affidavit, Tomlinson, who was held on two charges of theft and possession of a controlled substance, was also wanted on a warrant for possession of marijuana, according to the affidavit.

According to the report, Tomlinson entered a room occupied by another patient, grabbed a bag containing several pill bottles belonging to that patient and dashed toward the exit.

A friend of the patient called hospital security. Tomlinson was stopped and arrested when police arrived, according to the affidavit.

Police found hospital items including socks, swab kits, tongue depressors and a thermometer in addition to the pills, which were identified by hospital staff as Soma. The affidavit said that Tomlinson admitted to police the pills weren't his and he had taken one.

Tomlinson was charged with possession of marijuana in September. The warrant was issued after he failed to respond to a summons in November, according to court documents.