Coronavirus: Thieves steal £160,000 of PPE meant for NHS workers

‘This is a particularly sickening crime when you consider the PPE was intended for NHS and for care home workers,’ say police

Thieves have stolen £166,000 worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) from a warehouse in Salford overnight, police have said.

The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) force yesterday launched an investigation into the overnight burglary at Trafalgar Business Park, which saw thieves make off with 80,000 face masks intended for NHS, council workers and care home workers.

Detective Inspector Chris Mannion said during a press conference on Thursday: “Our inquiry so far suggests that there were three offenders in dark clothing, at least two of them are men, and they were also believed to have made off in three separate vehicles – a white Mercedes Sprinter van, a grey Volkswagen Caddy van, and a grey Silver Estate vehicle.”

“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," said DI Mannion.

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

“To know there are individuals out there who are prepared to steal the equipment that keeps the frontline workers and the vulnerable safe is quite frankly shocking.

“I am determined that we catch these perpetrators as soon as possible."

The stolen PPE was meant to be supplied to Yorkshire Council and Morgan Taylor, a Preston-based company that supplies equipment to the NHS and care homes.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact police on 0161 856 5345 quoting incident number 42.