A NURSE is appealing for help from the public to retrieve his e-bike after it was stolen while he was working at the Covid vaccination centre in Bournemouth town centre.

The NHS member of staff said the bike was his “lifeline” to get to work.

He said he was “shocked” to find it had been stolen having locked it securely with two chains outside the entrance to the BIC.

The distinctive sans coloured Cube e-bike has orange walled tyres and is valued at £2,500.

The nurse, who asked to remain anonymous, said it was only a month old.

He said: “I was shocked to find that my bike had been stolen while I was working at the Bournemouth vaccination centre as it was locked up securely and right in view of an entrance to the BIC. The bike was my lifeline to get to work and it was only a month old.

“If anyone saw the incident happen, has seen the bike or has any information please do get in touch with the police.”

DorsetHealthcare NHS Trust, which runs the vaccination centre, said CCTV from the BIC showed the theft incident only took a couple of minutes to be carried out.

Bournemouth Echo:

Paul Douglas, Dorset HealthCare’s Covid-19 vaccination programme senior manager, said: “Since we have been operating the COVID-19 vaccination centre at the Bournemouth International Centre, our team has worked very hard, with great enthusiasm. I am very sorry to hear that one of our hard-working nursing team members recently had their e-bike stolen when working.

“It had been secured to some railings outside an entrance to the BIC with two padlocks and was the prize possession of its owner, who had saved for some considerable time to buy it as his means of transport to work.

“Its theft left its owner devastated by the loss. I cannot believe that someone would chose to carry out such an act against a person who is doing his very best to help protect the community.”

The bike was chained up on the railings outside the BIC’s staff entrance and the footage reportedly shows a white male, wearing cycling gear, sat on the steps in front of the staff entrance for several minutes looking up at the bike.

He then walked up to the bike, cut both chains, put them in his pockets and cycled off down the steps towards the pier, the trust said.

The man was said to be wearing a black face mask.

An image of the e-bike was immediately circulated to police and town centre Covid marshals following the incident on Friday, April 9.

Bournemouth central ward councillor Mike Greene added: “It is extremely disappointing to hear that a member of NHS staff doing vital work at the vaccination centre has been the victim of such a theft.

“I urge anyone with information to come forward and contact Dorset Police.”

Cllr Greene, who is also BCP Council portfiolio holder for transport, said he was currently working to ensure people across BCP had suitable secure areas to lock their bicycles.

Dorset Police said no arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing in relation to the theft, which took place between 11.30am and 3pm on April 9.

Anyone with information should contact police on 101, quoting reference number 55210055851.