The suspect has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Heartless thieves broke into Brentwood Ambulance Station while staff were out saving lives.

One member of staff had his car stolen, and other belongings including mobile phones, were also taken from the Sawyers Hall Lane site on Tuesday of last week (February 28), between 4.30 and 6.15pm.

The site had been empty at the time as crews were out attending calls.

When the evening crew arrived at 6.15pm to start work, they found opened lockers, and realised what had happened.

The crooks forced a window open to gain entry and rifled through personal lockers.

The car, a red Vauxhall Astra SI 51-reg, was then discovered to have been stolen.

Ambulance service spokesman, Gary Sanderson, said: “This is a despicable act to carry out and especially whilst our crews are out saving lives in the community.

“Words cannot describe how the crews feel about the thefts and we will do everything we can to bring the perpetrators to the courts.”

Ambulance duty operations manager, Ricky Walker, said: “There is a sad irony here that while we’re out helping those in medical need, someone comes and steals from us, and in quite a big way too.

“It’s an upsetting situation. We’re working with the police in the subsequent investigation and of course urge anyone with information to contact them and help catch whoever did this.”

Anyone with information about the crime should call PC Holli Scott at Brentwood police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.