![\"\"](\"file:\/\/\/C:\/Tmp\/moz-screenshot-2.png\")
<\/img><\/img><\/img>Los Angeles County Sheriff\u2019s officials say a department program to safely collect unwanted syringes at mail-like boxes outside its stations may be a little too successful. <\/p>\n
During the last five months, the boxes have been filled to the brim with nearly 32,000 needles, officials said. But because\u00a0large batches of similar type syringes are being left,\u00a0investigators\u00a0believe some of the\u00a0needles may be from the medical industry.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot trace the sources, but some of the needles look prepackaged like they are from a medical clinic,\u201d said Steve Whitmore, a sheriff’s spokesman.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese boxes are not for commercial use,\u201d Whitmore said. \u201cIt says right on them.\u201d<\/p>\n
The boxes \u2013 similar to ones for safe drug drop-off — are for anonymous disposal of syringes, drugs and medications, officials said. In addition to the syringes, the department also has collected 1,200 pounds of medications and less than a gram of narcotics.<\/p>\n
–Richard Winton <\/p>\n
Photo: Times file<\/em><\/p>\n \nMore breaking news in L.A. Now: <\/strong><\/p>\n New fire chief named in Santa Monica<\/a><\/p>\n Californian denied out-of-state liver transplant by Anthem Blue Cross to save money, lawyer says<\/a><\/p>\n Teen mom birth rate in California continues decline<\/a><\/p>\n Villaraigosa proposes merging 2 city agencies to save $2 million<\/a><\/p>\n Crews work to repair burst water main on Crenshaw Boulevard in Hawthorne<\/a><\/p>\n Pit bull attack has Echo Park dog owners taking up arms<\/a><\/p>\n Ceremony marks start of expansion project at LAX international terminal<\/a><\/p>\n LAPD investigates home invasion robbery at Woodland Hills house used by rap label<\/a><\/p>\n