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Human Leg Stolen From Tissue Transport Van In Downtown Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A human leg was stolen from a tissue transport van while the limb's caretakers grabbed a bite to eat in downtown Los Angeles early on Monday morning.

The leg was in the care of non-profit organ donation organization OneLegacy, which provides services including organ transportation for the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner.

As employees of the non-profit stopped at the Original Pantry Cafe in downtown Los Angeles for a meal at around 5 a.m. Monday, a thief broke into their unmarked van and stole a cooler containing the leg. The leg was wrapped up, a source said, making it possible the thieves did not know they were stealing a human body part.

OneLegacy said it notified the donor's family and is taking a look at its security measures in the wake of the theft.

"OneLegacy regrets the loss of the opportunity to fulfill the donor family's wish to heal and save lives with this donation," the non-profit's chief executive, Tom Mone, said in a statement. "[OneLegacy] is reviewing its security procedures to identify ways in which we can prevent such occurrences in the future."

The Coroner's office, meanwhile, was concerned that a staffer had leaked news of the limb theft to the media, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The Coroner's office could not be immediately reached for comment.

 

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