A masked thief ransacked an NHS office and stole personal protective equipment (PPE) in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The vital items were stolen by the balaclava-clad thief during a raid on an office in Salford, Greater Manchester.
Alongside protective equipment, which is in short supply in medical facilities across the country as doctors and nurses battle the coronavirus pandemic, the masked raider stole laptops and some petty cash.
In a post on Facebook, one NHS worker described the theft of the protective gear as a ‘massive sucker punch’ and said they felt ‘gutted, angry and in shock’.
The office is a run by Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, who run Salford Royal Hospital (pictured)
Great Manchester Police have launched an investigation into the theft, which took place at an office building in Windsor Street, Salford.
Staff working for Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust arrived at the office on Sunday morning to find it had been ransacked.
The office is used by Salford Care Homes Practice, a GP surgery that looks after people in the city’s care homes.
A spokesperson for Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust said: ‘We are shocked and saddened that one of our community bases has been burgled and belongings stolen, including some items of PPE equipment.
‘Our priority has been supporting staff based at this unit and ensuring they have access to the equipment that they need to carry out their roles.
The items were stolen during a raid on an office in Windsor Street, Salford. The office is used by Salford Care Homes Practice, a GP surgery that looks after people in the city’s care homes
It’s a testament to staff that service delivery has not been significantly impacted today following this incident.
‘We will support Greater Manchester Police in their ongoing inquiries.’
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police added: ‘Police were called shortly before 7.50am on Sunday 12 April 2020 to reports of a burglary at an NHS building on Windsor Street in Salford.
‘Initial enquiries have established that an offender – wearing gloves and a balaclava – made off with a number of laptops and a quantity of petty cash from offices inside the building.
‘It is believed that the offender also caused criminal damage to another building nearby.’