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‘Despicable’ burglars break in to hospice
11:00am Friday 20th April 2012 in News

Hospice directors Katrina Sudbury and Peter Lennard examine the ripped out door

THIEVES broke into offices at Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley and stole computers while causing an estimated £25,000 of damage.

A roof was damaged, windows and doors smashed, locked filing cabinets ripped open and nine laptops stolen in the raid on offices at the hospice, which cares for seriously ill people from around the region.

Sarah Whitfield, the hospice’s chief executive, said: “I think the initial reaction from the staff who found out we had been broken into was shock. The second was disbelief that a hospice that’s so well loved in the area should be targeted. But nobody is immune to burglars.


“From my point of view, I was very relieved it was at the other end of the building and the in-patient area was not affected at all. It has made people a bit nervous and we have had to reassure them.

“I am very sad that they felt that they had to take equipment, some of which is directly used for patient care, and I’m very sad that they were so desperate that they felt they had to steal from the local community and from local patients under our care.”

 Mrs Whitfield added that, to her knowledge, this was the first time the hospice had ever been broken into.

Although there were staff on the site at the time of the raid, on Wednesday night last week, the break-in was discovered by staff arriving for work the next morning.

The hospice has now arranged for patrols of the premises and is reviewing its security.

Although the damage and loss will be covered by insurance, the hospice is likely to face higher premiums.

Sgt Chris Hams, of the Bradford on Avon Neigh-bourhood Police Team, said: “This is a despicable crime, targeting a facility that cares for some of the most seriously ill people from all over our region.

“I would urge any members of the local community who may have seen anything suspicious in the area, no matter how small, to call police on the 101 number.

“To those responsible; if you have any decency, you will return the stolen items.

“A full investigation to apprehend them is under way.”

Dorothy House supports about 700 families affected by life-threatening diseases every day and cares for the majority of its patients in their homes.

The hospice receives only about 30 per cent of its funding from the NHS and has to raise £3m a year, or £7,000 a day, to keep running.

Anyone with information can call Wiltshire police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.