Nurse hits out at "selfish" thieves after bike is stolen from outside hospital

On Monday, May 11, after a 13-hour shift at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle, Lily Richardson discovered her brand new bike had been stolen while she was caring for patients completely unaware.

Lily, a student nurse, chose to spend her final year on placement at the hospital so she could help those on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 21-year-old, who lives in Donkins Street, Boldon Colliery, has been staying with a friend near to the hospital in Newcastle during the outbreak.

She only bought the bike a few weeks ago with her first NHS paycheck.

“I had locked it up at around 6.45am and came back at 8.45pm to find it had been stolen - I didn’t find out until the end of my 13 hour shift,” she said.

“They would have been stealing my bike while I was laughing and making jokes with my patients.”

Police were called at around 12.35pm on Monday to reports that a bike had been stolen from outside the hospital.

The offender fled the scene after using wire cutters to free the bike.

“I just couldn’t believe somebody would do that - I’m quite a positive person so when it wasn’t there I just thought security must have moved it,” she continued.

“People are desperate so they are stealing from hospitals, but they are stealing off somebody who could potentially save theirs or their family’s lives.

“We are coming into work every day and putting our loved ones’ lives at risk. These people are targeting our transport – it’s just so selfish.”

But Lily is determined to remain positive and is now running to work to try and stay fit.

She added: “I just hope someone realises it was stolen and returns it.”

Police have branded the actions “despicable” and say they are carrying out “extensive enquiries” to find the bike and the offender.

Northumbria Police’s Neighbourhood Inspector for Newcastle city centre, Karen Madge, said: “At 12.35pm on Monday we received a report that a bicycle had been stolen from the site of the RVI in Newcastle. Officers attended the area but the suspect had already fled the scene, it later emerged that the bicycle belonged to a nurse at the hospital.

“We are carrying out extensive enquiries to identify the bicycle and locate the offender. That includes the review of CCTV cameras in the area and high visible patrols around the area of the hospital. It is not the first time property belonging to hospital staff has been stolen and we have increased our patrols around the RVI in recent weeks so it is disappointing to receive reports of further incidents.

“Our NHS heroes are doing an incredible job in the fight against Covid-19 and it is despicable that anyone would target them at this time. We know the community will rally round the victims of these thefts and we will do everything we can to recover their stolen property.”

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