Millions in Surgical Robotic Arms Stolen from Florida Hospital

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A 54-year-old man was arrested in connection with a multi-year theft scheme involving the theft of over $14 million worth of surgical robotic arms from a Jacksonville, Florida hospital. The investigation began in December 2024 after the hospital discovered multiple robotic arms had been stolen. A former hospital employee, Angela Kearse, pleaded guilty to stealing the equipment and implicated the man, Michael Roberson, in orchestrating the thefts. Kearse said Roberson, who represented himself as a local radiology sales representative, met her at a poker room in 2023 and the two worked together to steal and sell the stolen robotic arms to retailers in Florida and Tennessee.

Why it matters

The theft of millions of dollars' worth of specialized medical equipment from a hospital raises serious concerns about security vulnerabilities and the potential impact on patient care. It also highlights the need for stronger oversight and accountability measures to prevent such large-scale theft schemes from occurring, especially in the healthcare industry.

The details

According to the arrest report, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office launched an investigation in December 2024 after St. Vincent's Hospital Southside discovered multiple surgical robotic arms had been stolen. The hospital's security manager reviewed surveillance footage and badge access records, which showed former hospital employee Angela Kearse, 58, exiting the facility on Christmas Day 2024 carrying boxes and duffel bags containing the stolen equipment. Kearse later pleaded guilty to the thefts. Detectives determined that Kearse had been working with Michael Roberson, 54, who represented himself as a local radiology sales representative, to orchestrate the thefts since 2020. Kearse told police she would meet Roberson or another individual to transfer the stolen property after removing it from the hospital, and Roberson would then sell the equipment to retailers in Florida and Tennessee. A financial analysis found that over $14 million worth of unused surgical instruments were missing from the hospital.

• The thefts were discovered in December 2024.
• Kearse was observed stealing equipment on Christmas Day 2024.
• The thefts were found to have been occurring since 2020.

What’s next

Detectives are continuing to investigate the full scope of the theft scheme and any additional individuals who may have been involved. The hospital is also likely reviewing its security protocols to prevent such large-scale thefts from occurring in the future.