Man steals 29 coronavirus tests from Tucson health clinic, police say

Police are looking for a man who they say stole 29 COVID-19 test kits Friday from a health clinic in Tucson.

The man entered the El Rio Health Center in Tucson just before 8 p.m. while employees were closing, according to a Facebook post from Tucson police. He was disguised as a delivery driver. Employees realized the test kits were missing the next morning.

Police said the kits are "essentially useless" to the thief as they can only be tested in a private lab with the proper tools to run the test.

"Thankfully, the stolen kits have already been replaced, so it has not affected the clinic's testing abilities at this time," Tucson police said in the post. "It has however taken 29 testing kits out of the medical field for needed testing in the future."

Tucson police described the man as a Hispanic male in his 30's, close to 6 feet tall with a large build and a dark gray beard. Surveillance video showed the man leaving in a red Dodge Charger.

Anyone with any information should call 88-CRIME.

Reach Ryan at ryan.vlahovich@arizonarepublic.com or follow him on Twitter @vlahovichryan

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