Another dental office hit with burglary

An unknown man reportedly broke into a dental office in California and fled with about $2,400 in cash, an x-ray machine, and more, according to a bulletin dated May 9 from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Malibu/Lost Hills Station.

It is the latest burglary to strike a dental-related business during the last several weeks.

Los Angeles County authorities are seeking the public's help in identifying a burglary suspect who smashed the rear window at Dentique Dental in Calabasas, CA, on April 17, entered the building, and returned later. When the man -- who was wearing a scarf across his face -- came back, he reentered through the shattered window, disabled the surveillance cameras, and took dental tools, an x-ray machine, a tablet, and $2,400, according to the bulletin.

This burglary occurred a few days before an unusual theft of about $32,000 worth of porcelain dental ovens that were taken from a dental laboratory in Washington. No arrests have been made in that case in which four ovens worth at least $8,000 each and used exclusively to make ceramic dental restorations were stolen from Custom Dental Aesthetics in University Place, WA, on April 20.

Authorities were baffled by the caper due the equipment being used for something so specific while leaving behind items that are often considered more lucrative to buyers, like drugs and computers.

A few days later, on April 29, detectives from the Montgomery County Department of Police Third District Investigative Section in Maryland sought the public's help in identifying the man who allegedly broke into Sunshine Smiles Dental Care in Silver Spring, MD, according to a press release from the police.

On the afternoon of April 5, police responded to a burglary in which a man broke into the practice and took property. Police did not say which items were stolen but noted that surveillance footage showed the man purportedly trying the door handles of other businesses before entering the practice.

Also, between April 8 and 10, x-ray devices, a defibrillator, laptops, and other equipment valued at tens of thousands of dollars were stolen from Revive a Smile, a mobile charity dental clinic in New Zealand, according to multiple reports.

Those who run the mobile clinic, which provides free dental care to those who otherwise do not have access to services, were on a break when the theft occurred. The lack of equipment forced the volunteers to reschedule appointments.