‘Sickening’ theft of 80,000 face masks for frontline workers

DETECTIVES LEFT SICKENED AS £166,000 OF PPE KIT FOR FRONTLINE STAFF GOES IN RAID DISGUST AS 80,000 NHS FACE MASKS STOLEN

AN estimated £166,000 worth of personal protective equipment meant for frontline NHS staff and care workers was stolen from a warehouse.

Police have condemned the ‘sickening’ and ‘shocking’ theft, which took place at a unit at Trafalgar Business Park in Salford.

The 80,000 KN95 face masks, supplied by firm Puro Medico, had been intended for NHS, council workers and care home workers.

Officers say the incident took place between 9.30pm and 11.30pm.

CCTV showed three offenders arrive at the premises in three vehicles.

The suspects, two of whom are believed to be male, were wearing dark clothing. They broke into a van parked in front of the shutters and removed the handbrake to roll it away from the doors. They then used machinery to cut a hole in the shutters to gain access to the PPE.

Police say no other items were stolen. No arrests have been made.

Det Insp Chris Mannion said it ‘beggars belief’ that anyone could ‘strike at the heart of society at this moment in time.’

He said the crooks arrived in a white Mercedes Sprinter van, a grey Volkswagen Caddy van and a grey-silver estate vehicle.

He said: “It is striking how deliberate, calculated and targeted this incident was.

“The offenders were at the scene for around two hours, and no other items other than the PPE were stolen.

“This is a particularly sickening crime when you consider that the PPE was intended the NHS and for care home workers, and at a time where we are trying to protect the NHS and one another against one common enemy in Covid-19.

“To know that there are individuals out there that are prepared to steal the equipment that keeps the frontline workers and vulnerable safe is quite frankly shocking, and I am determined that we catch these perpetrators as soon as possible.

“I appeal to anyone with information, no matter how small, to do the right thing and contact the police.”

Anyone with information can call GMP on 0161 856 5345, quoting incident number 42 of May 7 – or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Det Insp Chris Mannion tells of the ‘shocking’ theft at the unit on Trafalgar Business Park