Thieves target NHS worker’s car while she worked at Sheffield hospital during pandemic
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Kelly Reeder, a speech and language therapist, parked her car on Horndean Road, close to the Northern General Hospital, while she worked with patients on Tuesday.
When she returned to her Honda Jazz and started the vehicle she knew something was amiss and drove it straight to her local garage in Crookes.
Mechanics quickly established that the catalytic converter, which cleans up harmful gases before they exit the exhaust pipe, had been stolen.
Thefts have been reported across the UK, with thieves cashing in on the value of some precious metals used in catalytic converters.
Kelly, 39, said she wants her experience to serve as a warning to other hospital workers, patients and visitors who park outside the hospital grounds.
She also wants local residents to report suspicious activity to the police to help officers catch culprits in the act.
Kelly said: “I normally cycle to work but with the snow and ice I took my car on this particular day and parked really close to Barnsley Road, which is a busy main road and where there is a busy bus stop.
“To find out that somebody targeted my car when chances are they would have suspected that I worked at or was visiting the hospital makes it even worse, especially in a pandemic.”
She added: “There is parking at the hospital but not enough for all the staff and visitors, so it is common for cars to be parked nearby.
“When I reported it to the police, they said it happens all the time.
“For this to have happened in broad daylight is so blatant.
“It is not an easy time for those working in hospitals in the middle of a pandemic, so the additional worry of things like this happening is the last thing we need.
“I would urge anyone who sees anything suspicious to report it.”
Anyone with information about this or other catalytic converter thefts should call South Yorkshire Police on 101.
