CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – DECEMBER 18: COVID-19 vaccine will be stored on December 18, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois, at the pharmacy at Roseland Community Hospital. (Photo by Scott Olson / Getty Images)
TO Newsroom
UPDATE UP 12:00 PM PT – Friday, February 5, 2021
Florida police are searching for a man who stole a 30-bottle car containing the COVID-19 vaccine. According to Plant City authorities, a man wearing a light hoodie stole the vehicle from the parking lot at Strawberry Festival Ground on Wednesday.
ANSWER STOLEN: Police looking for car stolen from Plant City with vials containing the Covid vaccine that would be administered at the Strawberry Festival Ground. Information about car below and person of interest: pic.twitter.com/w9eWUlWwQi
– Jennifer Titus (@ jenntitus10) February 4, 2021
Officials said $ 10,000 doses were kept in the vehicle before it was distributed at the city’s vaccination center.
Capt. Jerry Stwan of the Plant City Police Department said he believes a person passing by saw a crime and stole the car.
“Whether it was intentional or accidental that the vaccines were stolen, I am sure lessons will be learned for better safety measures for these vaccines,” Stwan said. “They are very precious to many people in our state.”
Officials have issued a nationwide warning and the investigation is continuing.