Paramedic brands thieves as scumbags

A PARAMEDIC today branded thieves as scumbags after they stole from his ambulance while he was at a 999 call.

Neil Flowers left his rucksack in the ambulance as he went to the aid of a patient struggling to breathe.

The vehicle had only been left unattended two minutes when thieves stole the bag, containing valuables and personal belongings worth £600, from the cab of the ambulance.

Mr Flowers, a 32-year-old paramedic based at Saxmundham, said: “I'm disgusted that someone would even consider stealing from an ambulance while paramedics were helping an unwell person.

“We were helping somebody within that neighbourhood, it could have been the thieves' relatives for all they knew.

“They are scumbags as far as I'm concerned.

“It was a personal bag, with my mobile phone, house keys, car keys and personal items to do with my 18-month-old son, like pictures, inside.

“It's a pain having to have my locks changed, and sorting out the paperwork for the phone and so on, but I don't mind that so much. It's more about the personal items which I've lost, which don't mean anything to anyone else.”

The bag, a blue and white Adidas rucksack, also contained medical textbooks and equipment.

The ambulance was parked at Pembroke Close, south east Ipswich, at around 10.25pm on Sunday .

Mr Flowers said: “Officially we are meant to lock the doors, but when you are called out on an emergency it's not your priority.

“I realised what had happened after some Community Responders arrived at the scene and said the ambulance door was wide open. We had only been inside about two minutes.”

Anyone within information about the theft is asked to call Pc Paul Dean at Suffolk police's South West Ipswich Safer Neighbourhood Team on 01473 613500.

N What do you think of thieves who steal from the emergency services? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk