Winnipeg police have launched an investigation after determining almost $2 million was stolen over a number of years from a health centre's ATM.
Police said the investigation is in its early stages at the Misericordia Health Centre.
The ATM is located by an information desk inside the centre.
It's believed the theft went on for 10 years, but remained undetected.
The bank machine is owned and operated by the health centre.
"Internal concerns were raised. And at that point we hired an external forensic team and they confirmed there was a theft," said Heidi Klaschka at the Misericordia Health Centre.
In April, the hospital contacted Winnipeg police and the commercial crime unit is now investigating.
"This person… is believed to have some sort of connection and responsibility to that ATM or possibly other accounts," said Const. Jason Michalyshen.
Ron Bylo is a forensic investigator who is called when companies suspect fraud or want to prevent it. Bylo believes with proper checks and balances, the case at Misericordia could have been caught a long time ago.
Officials with the hospital said they've learned from the theft.
"We looked at everything we do across Misericordia, not just the ATM, and we tightened up all our controls to make sure this doesn't happen again," said Klaschka.
There are reports that an employee in charge of the ATM has been fired, but officials at the centre wouldn't comment and said the investigation is now in the hands of police.
So far, no arrests have been made.
The hospital said it has insurance to cover the losses from the thefts from the ATM.
Loss prevention experts suggest that anyone who operates a stand-alone ATM should have two people responsible for it so that both can verify the money can going in and going out.
- with a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley
