Transcription (of iMessage exchange): “Hi, is this Paul?

Who is this

This is Erica from the dentist’s office. I got your number from your file

Pretty sure this violates Hippo but shoot your shot I guess

I’m not flirting with you. We have you on video stealing thousands of dollars of x-ray equipment”

  • PeriodicallyPedantic@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    140
    arrow-down
    3
    ·
    11 months ago

    I’m trying to figure out what X-ray equipment can be stolen that is worth only thousands of dollars. A case of those films you bite on when they x-ray your teeth?

    • TheFriar@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      154
      ·
      11 months ago

      And why, if you have photographic evidence of grand theft, you’d text the person who stole with just “this is Erica from the dentist office.”

      I have a feeling this internet person is making stuff up.

    • LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      17
      ·
      11 months ago

      If something costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, it’s also accurate to say it costs “thousands of dollars.”

      • Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        11 months ago

        I am just imagining him bored waiting for them to come back and he is like “fuck this, I am taking this shit, make this wait worth my while” and then just pulls out a tool belt and starts unbolting the thing from the wall.

      • rosymind@leminal.space
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        11 months ago

        Nah, I’ve worked in dental. Those machines are insanely expensive. This is one hand-held unit for sale just under 3k, down from just under 7k . That doesn’t count the sensors, which are also crazy expensive.

        https://universadent.com/product/nomad-pro-2/

        Most offices have machines attached to the wall, which would be extremely difficult to steal. But a nomad is portable.

        https://dentimax.com/x-ray-sensor-comparison/

        Above is ONE sensor (most offices have at least 2) that costs around 7k. There are other neccessities as well, but I think you get the point

        • neonred@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          11 months ago

          Well, to be fair a few k is not expensive for medical equipment which is not a mass market, needs certification and usually lasts decades. It’s like no money.

  • LEDZeppelin@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    57
    ·
    11 months ago

    That’s trump level defense - you can’t take me to court for stealing because that violates my Hippo rights

    • Aux@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      11 months ago

      That’s how it works actually - if you break the law while making the case, your case is invalid.

      • haui@lemmy.giftedmc.com
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        11 months ago

        Thats why this needs to change.

        If you commited murder and someone breaks the law to get you, you should still get convicted.

        But the person breaking the law should have no immunity either and face the consequences of their actions. But if the person abused a position of power (police, politician, etc) they should face twice the punishment, one time for breaking the law and a second time for doing so in a trusted office.

        • mako
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          11 months ago

          The person you’re replying to isn’t correct. Police and prosecutors can’t break the law to make a case. If you exceed the speed limit while trailing a killer, they don’t get to go free.

      • mako
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        edit-2
        11 months ago

        No, that’s not true at all. Police and prosecutors can’t (legally) break the law to make a case.

        If a citizen breaks the law catching another citizen breaking the law there will probably be charges for both parties.

        Erica from the dentist’s office didn’t “blow the case” by texting the thief.

        Finally - and this is the most important bit that everyone seems to be missing - Erica didn’t commit a HIPAA violation. She used his phone number on file to text him, something my dentist’s office does to me as well. She didn’t share any personal information with a third party.

        This is a gentle reminder that reading something in a meme does not make it factually true.

  • neonred@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    11 months ago

    Why should an employee witnessing a crime contact the thief? And even tell their name and send their phone number?