A nurse who had her bicycle stolen while on the front-line of dealing with the Coronavirus outbreak at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre has thanked police ‘from the bottom of her heart’ after they helped to catch those responsible – and went the extra mile to provide her with a replacement bike.
On Thursday 26 March, Karen Udtohan – who works on the COVID-19 Admissions Ward at the hospital – returned to where she had locked her boyfriend’s bicycle the night before to find it had been stolen.
Karen said: “I’d finished work after a busy and stressful night dealing with a number of patients. I made my way back to where I’d left my bike and had planned to meet my boyfriend. When I got there, I couldn’t see my bicycle.
“At first, I was in denial and thought I must have forgotten where I’d left it – but when I found the broken D-lock, I knew it had been taken.”
Karen’s boyfriend rang the police and reported the theft to the on-site security who explained there had been a number of thefts from the Queen’s Medical Centre that evening.
Within hours of the theft being reported, Nottinghamshire Police released a CCTV appeal was released to the media and two men were arrested shortly afterwards in connection with the burglaries.
However, this did not solve the issue of the stolen bike.
“One of the officers looking into our case offered to give me a replacement bicycle and I am so grateful,” Karen added. “It’s a really nice bike and they even included a pannier bag.”
The replacement bike was sourced from Nottinghamshire Police’s own fleet of bicycles which are used by neighbourhood policing teams across the county, as part of their daily patrols of their local areas.
The bike, which had become surplus to the force’s own requirements, was given the once-over by the force before being delivered to Karen by officers working on the investigation shortly after the original incident.
“I really appreciate all the effort that the officers have put into this case,” she continued.
“I am happy that the thieves have been caught already and hope that the action on this case is a lesson to anyone who thinks about stealing.
“I couldn’t believe that people would do something like this, we work incredibly hard in the NHS and I am pleased that the people who did this have been brought to justice.
“I just wanted to say ‘thank you’ from the bottom of my heart to Nottinghamshire Police. The NHS staff aren’t the only heroes during this unprecedented time – the police are heroes, too.”
Chief Superintendent Rob Griffin said: “As soon as the bike burglaries were reported to Nottinghamshire Police, everyone at Nottinghamshire Police was desperate to make sure that those responsible were caught and brought before the courts for what is a truly shocking series of incidents that targeted key workers working on the front-line to tackle the pandemic.
“During this outbreak, we all have a duty to protect the NHS and, like the police, we will do everything in our power to help protect our fellow key workers and the public we serve at such a difficult time.
“Donating a bicycle is the least we could do to show our appreciation and support for the incredible work Karen and her colleagues are doing.”
David Moran, 35, of Courtleet Way, and Craig Lancaster, 29, of Camrose Close, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday 30 March where they pleaded guilty to the burglary of the hospital’s cycle storage unit.
Both men are due to appear at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Monday 20 April.
