#NJ hospital security guard stole from patient who died of COVID-19: cops

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Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus
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A security guard at a New Jersey hospital has been accused of stealing cash and jewelry from three patients — including one who had died of the coronavirus, according to a report.

Danny Rivera, 40, of Jersey City, who works at the Hudson Regional Hospital in Secaucus, was charged with three counts of theft and one count of unlawful possession of a weapon, NJ.com reported.

Secaucus Police Chief Dennis Miller said more than $500 in cash and more than $10,000 in jewelry had been swiped in the three incidents, which took place on April 28, May 29 and July 15, according to the outlet.

Police recovered some of the proceeds from the thefts in Rivera’s home, Miller said.

“We are fully cooperating with authorities on the recent arrest of a former member of our security staff,” hospital spokesman Ron Simoncini told NJ.com.

“Out of respect for the investigation, we cannot comment further except to say that for an employee to steal from patients under our care insults every principle of Hudson Regional Hospital’s existence and we deeply regret the incident,” he added.