Key worker’s bike pinched
Vulnerable clients affected
Heartless thieves stole a Hamilton carer’s only mode of transport, leaving her vulnerable clients unattended.
The cruel act meant Sophie Robertson (above) was unable to look after residents who depend on her for vital care during lockdown.
Devastated Sophie, 24, visits multiple clients every day using her motorbike as transport but it was snatched from her home on the morning of Thursday, July 16.
It’s left the heartbroken carer in tears dreading the thought of never seeing her bike again, which was bought as a Christmas present and affectionately named ‘Kitten’.
Sophie is now being taken to home visits by her mum, who has travelled from Clydebank to help make sure the community’s most vulnerable are not left stranded.
She told the Advertiser: “I was heartbroken, this was my first ever vehicle, it was a Christmas present the year that I passed. Her name’s Kitten, that’s what I called my bike and I was absolutely heartbroken, I was in shock, I was crying, I was left panicking that I’d lose my job as well. I can’t do my work.
“I’ve had it since 2016. It’s my pride and joy, it’s my life, I need it. I’m a carer and the work I do is home visits. I literally need it to do split shifts and get between people’s houses so I need to drive between clients throughout the day.
“My mum’s driving me to work at the moment but that’s obviously short term, she works from home so she’s able to do her work from the car while I’m doing my visits. She’s very kindly helping me out but she lives in Clydebank and I’m in Hamilton.”
Sophie arrived home at around 1.40am on Thursday, where she last saw her bike at her flat on Strathaven Road. She left for work only a few hours later when she discovered it was gone. “It was stolen at the close at the bottom of the stairs”, Sophie added. “I had been at my friend’s on the Wednesday night and they always make me text them when I get home because I’m on the bike just to make sure I get home safe. So I got home, sent the text, so the last time I saw my bike was 1.40am and came down at 6.50am and it was gone.”
Sophie and her flatmate are both key workers and have worked tirelessly throughout the coronavirus pandemic protecting vulnerable residents at their homes. Their work has been applauded by neighbours who have supported them going out to work on the frontline – but now Sophie is worried for her clients.
She said: “My first thought was ‘did I park it here?’ I looked around the area and it just wasn’t there, I was in shock. I phoned my manager, I was supposed to be at a visit at 7am and it’s now 6.55am and I’ve had to phone and say my bike’s been stolen and I can’t get out to work today so it’s put a lot of strain not only on myself but vulnerable adults that I work with which has caused me more stress as well because people have medication and care to get, all in their allotted times.
“I was involved in a minor crash on Father’s Day and was off for two weeks, so I’d only been back a week then I had to say to my manager ‘look my bike’s been stolen and I can’t do anything’. It gave me panic attacks and I was crying, my flatmate was working a sleepover which meant I was on my own, it was really horrific. It’s been my pride and joy, going to see my friends and them all getting pictures on it. I love my bike so much and she’s gone and I don’t think I’ll ever see it again.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson commented on the incident: “Around 7.20am on Thursday, July 16, police received a report of a motorcycle stolen from Strathaven Road, Hamilton. Police enquiries are ongoing.”