Thieves take TV as 999 crews attend call-outs
THIEVES broke into an ambulance station and stole a television watched on breaks by busy paramedics.
They struck as 999 crews in Rochdale were attending emergency call-outs.
Ambulance service bosses say they are ‘appalled’ that criminals have targeted an emergency service. Frontline paramedics meanwhile are furious and slammed the thieves.
One angry paramedic said: “We don’t get much time to watch television but when we are on our 30-minute meal break in the middle of a 12-hour night shift, it’s handy to have something to take our minds off the job, even for a short time.”
Police are investigating the break-in at Rochdale ambulance station on Whitehall Street, opposite Rochdale Infirmary.
North West Ambulance Service has issued a public appeal for information - and the station has been inundated with kindhearted offers to supply a replacement TV and even donate cash.
Even the television’s remote control was swiped in the burglary.
Gary Eaton, Rochdale’s operations manager for North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, confirmed staff were ‘responding to emergencies’ at the time of the burglary in the early hours of April 21 - and described the break-in as demoralising.
“We are appalled that people will steal from our staff who work tirelessly to help people in the community,” he said. “We provide facilities such as televisions in our stations to enable them to have some down time from their very busy shifts when they are on breaks and it is extremely demoralising for staff to have these taken from them when they spend all their time trying to help people.”
Police have launched an investigation, but it’s understood that no arrests have been made as yet.
The trust appealed for anyone with information, or anyone offered a television for sale, to come forward. No description of the TV set has been issued.
Mr Eaton said: “The police have been informed, however no arrests have so far been made. We urge witnesses or anyone who might have any information about this crime to contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”