Thieves raid Masterton Medical

DISAPPOINTED: Masterton Medical manager Paul Cocks on site yesterday. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Expensive specialist equipment including a dermatoscope used to diagnose skin cancer has been stolen from doctors' bags by burglars who have twice broken into Masterton Medical and its neighbouring business, Focus, in the last four days.

The thieves targeted the medical rooms on Saturday and Monday nights, taking laptop computers, two prescription pads and specialist equipment including stethoscopes, a palliative cellphone used to support people who are dying, and the dermatoscope.

In the first burglary they also wrenched free and carried off a safe containing the medical room's cash float.

Masterton Medical manager Paul Cocks said the burglaries were "very disappointing", especially because they targeted doctors, a medical service and a needs-assessment service.

"This is a real kick in the teeth for the community," he said.

But Mr Cocks was quick to reassure patients no medical data on anyone had been stored on the laptops.

"That has not been compromised and we can put people's minds at rest, as all that information is stored with a centralised service," he said.

The stolen prescription pads contained prescriptions for controlled drugs and, as a result, a general alert had gone out to all pharmacies to be on the lookout for anyone trying to obtain drugs by using them.

"We have also notified the Ministry of Health," Mr Cocks said.

In the aftermath of Saturday night's break-in, security guards had been hired to keep an overnight watch on the premises on Sunday.

"But unfortunately we didn't extend that to Monday night and that's when they returned - it was all rather brazen."

Focus, the next-door business that is essentially a needs-assessment service for older people and the disabled, lost computers and a full emergency-preparedness kit.

Mr Cocks said much of the stolen equipment would be useless to anyone who was not a doctor.

He said the computers alone would be worth well over $10,000 because many were near-new, having been bought as replacements for those lost in a fire that partly gutted the former medical premises in Lincoln Rd.

Mr Cocks said it was not the value of the equipment taken but more the attack on a medical facility serving the district that was distressing.

"This sort of thing should never happen, it's really disappointing."

On the upside was the fact the old hospital premises where Masterton Medical was now housed had security cameras in place. It was hoped images captured on film could lead to those responsible.

Mr Cocks said police had been alerted to the burglaries, and a forensic team had carried out tests.