The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA

Homepage

March 15, 2013

Man has $25K heart pump controller stolen

LATROBE — A western Pennsylvania man is the victim of a theft that literally could become a matter of life or death.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that someone stole a heart pump controller and battery pack from 72-year-old Robert Baum's car last Saturday.

The Unity Township man needs the pump because of a leaky heart valve and always wears one controller while keeping a spare in his car. He says someone apparently stole the spare while he and his wife were shopping.

Baum thinks the thief might have believed they were stealing a camera, because the $25,000 device is stored in what looks like a camera bag.

For now, Baum has a secondary loaner device, but says he doesn't know yet whether insurance will pay for a permanent replacement or whether he'll have to buy one.

 

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Tribune-Democrat News Slideshow
Latest News
  • IRS Lerner.jpg IRS official: 'I did nothing wrong'

    The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the storm over the agency’s targeting of conservative groups told Congress on Wednesday that she had done nothing wrong in the episode, and then invoked her constitutional right to refuse to answer lawmakers’ questions.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • Boston Marathon Shooting.jpg FBI: Man fatally shot in Boston bombing probe

    A Chechen immigrant was shot to death by authorities while being questioned in the Boston Marathon bombing case early Wednesday after he lunged at an FBI agent with a knife, officials said.

    May 22, 2013 1 Photo

  • Sisters ejected from mall over cancer hats

    Three sisters say they were kicked out of a suburban Philadelphia mall after refusing to remove profanity-laden hats expressing their hatred of breast cancer.

    May 22, 2013

  • Pittsburgh jitney driver charged in passenger rape

    Pittsburgh police have charged a jitney driver with raping a female passenger and say his pants were still loose from the alleged attack and fell down when they stopped him and made him get out of the vehicle.

    May 22, 2013

  • Route 219 expansion gets final approval

    The final permit for the long awaited Route 219 four-lane extension from Somerset to Meyersdale has been approved. Construction of the approximate 11-mile project is set to begin late this summer.
     

    May 22, 2013

Local News
Sports
Pens practice22

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, left, talks with teammate Evgeni Malkin during the team's practice ahead of Game 5 in their NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference semifinal against the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa, Ontario, on Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Patrick Doyle)

Features
Lifestyles
Multimedia
Featured Ads
Facebook
Fuel Finder
Tribune-Democrat News Videos
Front page
Front page
Poll

Should Pennsylvania privatize portions of the state prison system?

Yes
No
I'm not sure
     View Results
Follow us on Twitter
AP Video
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future Florida FBI Shooting Has Boston Bombing Links Garcetti Elected Los Angeles Mayor Over Greuel Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage Looking for Love? Take the Prague Metro First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office New Xbox One Entertainment Console Unveiled
House Ads
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
Order Photos


Photo Slideshow

Parade
Magazine

Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
Hyperlocal Search
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide