Crime & Safety

Man Steals 5 Nitrous Oxide Tanks From Hospital in Evanston

The thief impersonated a medical supply company employee, police say.

A man who was impersonating a medical supply company employee stole five “giant” tanks of nitrous oxide from Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston May 21, according to an article in the Evanston Review.

Nitrous oxide can be used as an inhalant, with nicknames like whip-its, noz or hippie crack, according to information from the Evanston Police Department. It’s use as an inhalant has been increasing in recent years.

The thief said he was from a medical supply company that delivers the tanks and stole them while a hospital employee was preoccupied, the Review story says. He was using a 1990s beige station wagon as a get-away car.

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