Thief stole food shopping from Sheffield NHS nurse’s car after 12-hour night shift

The woman, who did not want to be named, had bought some essential shopping items for herself and her five-year-old child on Sunday (March 22). It had been her first chance to visit a supermarket following three consecutive 12-hour night shifts in her job as a clinical support worker at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

The incident happened at around 8pm on Sunday. After taking the shopping bag – which contained her purse with £60 inside – out of the car, she left for barely five minutes to carry her daughter into the house and greet her sister. During that time, a thief swiped it and fled on foot.

“It’s disgraceful, especially at a time like this,” the woman told The Star.

“I just don’t need it, it’s already stressful as it is with everything at work. We have to deal with the virus on the front line.

She added: “The pressure is mounting.”

The woman returned to her flat to check CCTV footage, which showed a man run into the car park and take the shopping before running back out.

She said: “I had only been out for essential bits. I just wanted to make sure I had fresh bread and milk in. I have a child at home so it’s essential I have things like that.

“It’s food they have taken out of my daughter’s mouth. If they said ‘I’ struggling and need food’, I would have given it to them.”

Gas and electric top-up cards were also inside the purse which was stolen, leaving the nurse and her daughter - who suffers with asthma - on an emergency supply while she juggles demanding work commitments with sorting out new cards.

“I was having to take her out of the house and bring her with me when it wasn’t suitable for her,” the woman said.

“Until now I have still not been able to put any gas or electric on because the new card won’t allow me to top up.”