A bike belonging to a frontline NHS staff member was stolen from outside the Leicester Donor Centre. The member of staff, who wished to ...
A bike belonging to a frontline NHS staff member was stolen from outside the Leicester Donor Centre.
The member of staff, who wished to not be named, is part of the housekeeping team and was working extra hours to help in the effort against the coronavirus.
She uses the bike every day in order to get to and from work and locks it to the gate outside of the front door.
On Tuesday, March 24 at about 6.10pm a man wearing a hood was caught on camera ripping the bike from the gate and making off with it.
Speaking on behalf of the member of staff, Karen Ellis, Donor Centre Manager said: 'It literally took 15 seconds for the bike to be gone.
'It's very worrying. This member of staff was only at work at this time of day because she was doing additional hours to help us during the Covid-19 crisis.
'With the city on lockdown, it seems that more opportunists are in the area, taking advantage that there are fewer people on the street to witness their crimes.
A hooded man was caught on camera ripping an NHS worker's bike from the gate of the Leicester Donor Centre and making off with it
'It makes essential workers who have to come into the city feel very wary of their safety and we are working hard to ensure people are safe to continue doing their essential roles.'
She said 'shock' was the initial reaction, that someone could do something so hateful in broad daylight.
It was also reported that the thief swore at staff as he rode off with the bike.
'The thief swore at staff and when she shouted after them "hey that's my bike", he replied "well it's not now!",' said the centre manager.
The member of staff, who wished to not be named, is part of the housekeeping team and was working extra hours to help in the effort against the coronavirus
'Now the shock has worn off there is an underlying sense of anger about the situation – what gives people the right to behave like this to anyone?
'We are living in a time when we all need to support each other and pull together and it's very saddening that a small fraction of the community is taking advantage of the situation.
'If this person had not been an NHS employee she would have been safe at home when this happened – it almost feels like essential workers are now being targeted because we have to go to work each day and it is frightening.'
Leicestershire Police say that no one has been arrested in connection with the incident. If you have any information you can contact the centre on Guildhall Lane or speak to police via 101
There has never been an issue with crime in front of the centre, so this incident has come as a surprise to the staff.
The bike is described as an Optima mountain bike, the frame is predominately white and silver with a pink section towards the front wheel.
Leicestershire Police say that no one has been arrested in connection with the incident.
If you have any information you can contact the centre on Guildhall Lane or speak to police via 101.
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