BIKE THIEVES are targetting hard-working NHS staff who are leaving their cycles at Bournemouth Hospital, an angry worker has claimed.

Healthcare Assistant Kate Williams came off her shift on Thursday evening to discover her beloved Specialized Ariel Disc Hybrid had been stolen.

"It was taken in broad daylight, between 8am and 6pm," said the healthworker, who lives in Bournemouth. "It was chained up so whoever did it must have used boltcutters. There was also another theft on the same day which means thieves have probably got away with £1,000 worth of bikes in one week."

She has reported the matter to the police and hospital authorities but claims, after talking to other staff members, that thefts may be occurring 'almost every week'.

"I'm not having a go at the hospital but I'm really angry that these thieves have the audacity to steal a bike from someone who is trying to do a good job that benefits other people," she said. "I don't have a car, the bike was my only mode of transport and now I'm having to beg lifts. I don't mind admitting, it's made me cry."

Kate says she can't afford another bike and wants the hospital to step up security.

A spokesman for RBCH said the hospital took security 'very seriously' and had been working with Dorset Police in the last six months to target the bike theft issue.

"We have had police on site to promote security with the bike security tag team at our Trust Open Day and we've installed further CCTV cameras around our site," he said. The Trust will be holding a Sustainability Day on Thursday where there would be further opportunities for bike tagging, he added.

A spokesman for Dorset Police said it had recorded only three bike thefts from the hospital area since December. However, she said: "This is data for reported thefts of pedal cycles and does not take into account break to outbuildings and any related thefts."

Following the theft, Kate has offered a reward for the return of her bike, which has a black frame with white and turquoise writing, and a sigma computer system fitted to the wheels.

*Find more advice about how to protect your bike here: https://www.dorset.police.uk/media/1497/steer_clear_of_cycle_theft.pdf