An A&E nurse who had just finished a gruelling 12-and-a-half hour shift told how she felt 'violated' after discovering her parked car had been stripped of its parts.
Demi Murphy, from Marston Green, West Midlands, found her Toyota Aygo had been targeted outside Heartlands Hospital, on Yardley Green Road, Bordesley Green, after returning to it on Thursday evening (25 June).
The 24-year-old, who qualified as a registered staff nurse only four-months ago, said the driver's window was smashed by thieves, which allowed them access to open the bonnet.
The entire front of the car, including the body bodywork, headlamps, engine parts and number plate, was stripped away.
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Her insurance company are liaising with a Toyota approved repair centre in Birmingham - but she will have to pay an excess of £500 ($610) to get it fixed.
She said: "I'd just done a 12-and-a-half hour shift in the heat, it was boiling hot in full PPE, looking after people and that's what you walk out to and the thanks that you get.
"It's horrible and so dishearting. I burst into tears. I was more shocked than anything. How has that happened in broad daylight. The car had been completely stripped and had been smashed up.
"I feel completely violated. I've worked really hard, as has everyone else in the current pandemic, as a key worker and this is how I'm repaid.
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"I've now got no means of transport and no way of getting into work to help look after patients and this how we are repaid. It's just disgusting. I'm really devastated."
Demi, who graduated at Birmingham City University, said she couldn't get into the hospital car park as the barriers were down. She parked on a residential road where she had previously parked as a student without an issue.
She added: "It should not happen to anybody and it's disgraceful regardless if you're a key worker or not - but to walk out of a busy A&E shift to this is not fair. You go to work and pay your way in life and that's how you're repaid."
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She said one of the residents Yardley Green Road told her he saw a van pull put by her car.
A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: "Officers were flagged down yesterday (Thursday) evening to reports of parts being stolen from a Toyota Aygo car parked in Yardley Green Road, Bordesley Green, sometime between 8am and 8.15pm.
Anyone with CCTV from the area or with any information can contact officers via Live Chat, quoting crime number 20BE/147131L/20, at www.west-midlands.police.uk, 8am to midnight, call 101 anytime or to remain anonymous contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Demi said residents from the street and others on social media told her of other incidents on the same road with number plates thefts and muggings of keys.
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Her car was previously stolen outside a restaurant in Coventry in February. But it was returned to her without any damage caused.
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