HEARTLESS thieves targeting Croydon University Hospital (CUH) stooped as low as swiping 14 wheelchairs.
The single theft was among 93 separate reports of items going missing from staff, patients and visitors at the NHS trust between August 2012 and August 2013.
The wheelchairs were taken in April. There were other reports of stolen computers, televisions, cash and even someone's lunch.
The reports have sparked concerns that the hospital is powerless to do anything without spending valuable funds on security.
Mark Justice, chair of patient group Croydon Healthwatch, said: "CUH should not have to increase the levels of security, as this will remove further money from frontline services.
"Someone knows who did these thefts and they should be talking to the police."
The wheelchair thieves were spotted taking the 14 chairs, while they were being stored outside awaiting repair.
The computer thefts from CUH were investigated by police, along with those of the wheelchairs, but no arrests have been made.
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust said it is unlikely that the computers contained personal information of patients.
Mr Justice added: "I think the thefts are symptomatic of the way some members of the public think about the NHS – it is theirs and they can do what they like. We cannot allow it to continue."
At the hospital itself, prescription pads, a blood pressure machine and a painting went missing, while shortly before Christmas an Xbox console and TV were stolen from the Willows ward on consecutive days.
A spokesman for Croydon NHS Trust said: "Our estates and facilities team includes security staff who will investigate when personal property or equipment is reported as missing.
"If there is any evidence of theft, we will report this to police and if necessary look at ways we can improve security for patients and staff."
Cash and phones were the most common items reported as missing, accounting for 22 and 18 accounts of lost items at CUH in the year respectively.
In more bizarre circumstances, one report in July listed sandwiches as having been stolen from a loading bay at the hospital. Records do not indicate whether they were recovered or what filling they contained.
Drug cabinet keys were reported missing at the hospital in August of this year.
A search was launched but it was discovered a member of staff had accidently taken them away and returned them to the Q3 ward two hours later.
The trust insisted patient care was not impacted upon.
