The Bizarre Case of Stolen Saliva Samples

The outpatient clinic where the elderly man took the box of saliva samples

On Thursday a box of saliva samples disappeared from a general outpatient clinic in Tseung Kwan O in the early afternoon.

It strangely turns out an 82-year-old man took the box to use as a shield as it was raining heavily at the time.

The box contained these bags

The box, which contained of saliva samples people had left there to be tested, was reported missing around 1pm.

After reviewing the security camera footage, it was found that an elderly man had taken the box to protect himself from the rain.

He told the clinic where he left the box, and the police managed to retrieve it within 15 minutes at 7.45pm that evening.

The man was subsequently arrested on suspicion of theft.

Why would he use a box filled with saliva samples as an umbrella over his head??? Did he know what was in the box? Or did he think no one would notice?

I have seen this collection box before in an outpatient clinic, and it was placed on the floor by the door. But still... why would you use this box? It is clearly marked that it is holding saliva samples that even says "biohazard" in English and Chinese on the plastic bags!

Now the clinic is contacting those who had placed their samples in the box to re-do the test again...

As for stepped up security, will they hire someone to watch a cardboard box? But maybe the clinic could provide extra umbrellas for people to "borrow" next time there's heavy rain...