Rhode Island Hospital nurse demands better security after break-ins

Rhode Island Hospital Nurse Demands Better Campus Security After Wave of Parking Lot Break-Ins

Stefanie Roberge, a registered nurse who has worked at the hospital for nearly eight years, said someone broke into her car last Friday around 5:30 p.m., causing what she estimated was a few thousand dollars in damage. “Whoever broke into my car tried to steal my car and broke my window,” she said.

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Roberge’s experience is one of several involving hospital employees. She said five cars were broken into in the past week alone, exposing a parking security gap that employees say leaves them vulnerable while they are inside working.

Stolen Converters, Missing Laptops, and a “Park at Your Own Risk” Policy

For the healthcare workers at Rhode Island Hospital, the daily commute has turned into a security gamble. Roberge described the hospital-assigned lot off Allens Avenue as a “park at your own risk” zone in an area she bluntly calls unsafe. The criminal activity hitting employee vehicles goes far beyond simple forced entry. Colleagues have had catalytic converters stolen and laptops stolen from inside the cabins. Another coworker had their tires stolen on two separate occasions overnight in the front lots.

When Roberge approached hospital management about covering her repair bills, she hit a bureaucratic wall. The administration told her they were not liable for the damage, leaving employees to absorb the financial fallout. Rhode Island Hospital did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the security lapses or requests for reimbursement.

Calls for Campus-Wide Protection

The mounting property crimes have prompted staff to demand increased security across the campus so they can turn their full attention to patients rather than worrying about whether their cars will be intact when their shifts end. “It is frustrating, especially when you dedicate your life to helping people and working in this facility,” Roberge said, emphasizing her affection for her job and coworkers weighed against the persistent anxiety of the parking situation.