UPDATE: Lives put at risk after £6,000 theft of equipment from emergency first response vehicle

Lives in the Sudbury area have been put at risk after thieves broke into an emergency first response vehicle and stole £6,000 worth of equipment,

A volunteer-run emergency service that was on hand at the Sudbury fire on Sunday has been rocked after thieves broke into a vehicle and stole life-saving equipment including a defibrillator.

The theft of equipment belonging to the Sudbury First Responders Team took place in Bures Road, Great Cornard, between 7.30pm last night (September 8) and 9am this morning (September 9).

Ray Cook, coordinator for the registered charity which covers Sudbury, Great Cornard and villages in the Sudbury area, said a door was heard being shut at 11pm, which may have been when the theft took place.

“We are very down and annoyed that somebody has taken it and put somebody’s life at risk,” said Mr Cook.

Without the equipment the team can no longer respond to emergency incidents, needing to raise £6,000 to fund replacements.

Called out on average 15 to 20 times a month, the team has to get to incidents within eight minutes, often the first service on the scene of emergencies.

In wake of the devastating fire at the weekend, in which the team unofficially attended, Mr Cook asked: “Why would anybody want to put others people’s lives at risk?

“I can’t think why they would want to do it. There’s nothing they can really use. They have got to know how to use the equipment.”

Mr Cook pleaded with the thieves, saying: “If you have a change of heart please leave it at the ambulance station in Acton Lane, Sudbury.”

Fellow responder Mandy Howe asked: “How can somebody do this? Surely they have loved ones that may need our services one day? This week has shown how important the emergency services are.”

Anyone with information about the thefts should call Suffolk Police on 101.

Donations to help the team can be made through Mr Cook. Call 07516 953117 or email ray.cook8@sky.com.