Patient, worker thefts prompt Piedmont to beef up security

ATLANTA — A few employees and patients of Piedmont Hospital called Channel 2's Ryan Young to complain about recent thefts and a robbery.

Sheryl Cox, whose husband has been in the intensive care unit of Buckhead’s Piedmont Hospital since the beginning of the year, said she is concerned about the public’s safety.

“It’s crazy because you’re here at the hospital with your loved one who you’re trying to be here for. But you can’t because some stranger is walking around getting inside Piedmont to come and take from us,” Cox said.

Cox said her 25-year-old daughter was sleeping in a waiting room when a man just walked over and took her belongings.

“He came toward her while she was asleep, took the pillow from under her head and she couldn't feel it.  She was asleep, and when the police officer got here he went upstairs, viewed the camera (and) came back down with a picture of this guy showing him with all my daughter's belongings,” she said.

Cox’s incident is not the only crime near the hospital, according to police reports.  Recently a woman had her phone snatched out of her hands outside the hospital, and a few days ago police shared a surveillance photo of a man believed to be involved in a robbery involving a Piedmont employee in the Peachtree Road parking garage.

A couple in the area, who just learned about the crimes, told Young they feel safe.

“Where we live it’s happening, so you know you just (have) to trust the Lord and live every day the best you can,” Elaine Stevenson said.

But for employees and patients, the crimes are starting to become more alarming.

“This has happened more than one time and no one is doing anything about it. I think they should beef up the security here,” Cox said.

Piedmont officials said they do plan to hire more security at the hospital.

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