A Co Down medical student who is working among Covid-19 patients in Belfast has told of his anger at being targeted in a break-in by intruders who stole laptops containing vital exam work.
David Sturdy, who is from Donaghadee but living at a house on Dunluce Avenue, off the Lisburn Road in south Belfast, said the break-in was a "set-back" for him and his house mates.
Three of the residents are fourth year medical students at Queen's University and are due to sit exams online in just two weeks.
As well we studying, all are involved in the fight against Covid-19.
While one is working at a coronavirus testing centre in Belfast, the other two are on stand-by in case there is a surge of new cases.
David, who is 24 and who already has a degree from Queen's University in Bio-Medical Sciences, is also working as a care assistant at both the Mater Hospital and Royal Victoria Hospital among Covid-19 patients.
Two other housemates work as a clinicial scientist, and for a medical company.
On Saturday, David and his housemates were out getting shopping and supplies for working the night shift. They left the house at 1.40pm, returning at 3.20pm.
One house-mate, who had remained in the property, discovered that every room in the house had been ransacked, except his own, while he was upstairs.
Five laptops, three of which had years of degree work on them, a Playstation 4 console and a wallet were stolen.
David said he believed those responsible had been watching the house.
Speaking to the Irish News yesterday, the student said he was "angry" about what had happened.
"Our exams are in two weeks so at the moment there would be a lot of revision work and our own notes on it (the laptops)," he said.
"We also need them to study and to do our exams online.
"It is a bit of a financial setback. It depends on how much the insurance wants to cover. When I do get a laptop, I will message other people and see if they can send us some notes and get whatever we can off the Queen's resources".
The 24-year-old said the break-in had come at a very difficult time amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"One of us is working in a testing centre," he said.
"The other two, me and a fella, we are on standby in case there is a bit of a surge. I also work as a care assistant in the hospital as well. I have been in the Mater and the Royal so I have been working in the Covid areas as well".
The medical student, who is considering specialising in emergency medicine, said he was "raging" about what had happened.
"Like we were a bit dumbstruck to begin with," he said.
"I am just angry. It is a bit of a hassle that we didn't need at this time".
Police have appealed for information about the burglary.
Items taken included five laptops, including two Apple MacBook Airs, one PS4 console and a wallet containing a sum of money.
Anyone with information, is asked to contact police on 101.
