URGENT APPEAL: Vital medical equipment stolen from six-year-old Peterborough schoolgirl

The family of a six-year-old Peterborough schoolgirl is appealing for the return of vital medical equipment that allows her to live her day to day life.
The stolen oxygen saturation monitor that is so vital to Scarlett Dowland, 6, inset KvehU8f5v0MhEQWOe4GNThe stolen oxygen saturation monitor that is so vital to Scarlett Dowland, 6, inset KvehU8f5v0MhEQWOe4GN
The stolen oxygen saturation monitor that is so vital to Scarlett Dowland, 6, inset KvehU8f5v0MhEQWOe4GN

Thieves broke into Nichola Dowland’s car while it was parked outside her New England home and stole her daughter’s oxygen saturation monitor.

Scarlett, 6, suffers from interstitial lung disease, meaning it is difficult for oxygen to pass into her bloodstream. As a result Scarlett relies on an oxygen saturation monitor to go about her day to day life, including attending Welland Academy.

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The theft took place in Boswell Close overnight between Tuesday July 18 and Wednesday July 19 when Nichola discovered the theft.

Scarlett Dowland, aged 6, who needs the vital medical equipment to go about her day-to-day life. Ff7f4eHNpq9DXnOoxeRjScarlett Dowland, aged 6, who needs the vital medical equipment to go about her day-to-day life. Ff7f4eHNpq9DXnOoxeRj
Scarlett Dowland, aged 6, who needs the vital medical equipment to go about her day-to-day life. Ff7f4eHNpq9DXnOoxeRj

When starting the morning school run she noticed the boot of her car was open. Thinking she must have left it that way the night before, she drove to school, only then realising that the bespoke jute bag, featuring an illustration of Scarlett, had been stolen from the boot together with its contents, the oxygen saturation monitor, a handheld oxygen monitor, Scarlett’s inhaler containing her medication and the record book which is filled in daily by Nichola and the school.

Nichola said: “A community nurse has lent us another saturation monitor for today, but realistically she can’t be in school without the monitor, she needs to check her oxygen levels every two hours.

“Interstitial lung disease means Scarlett’s body is deprived of oxygen, so it makes it difficult for her to breath.

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“It was a shock as where we live is a quiet area, it’s a cul-de-sac, we know all the neighbours.

Have you seen this oxygen saturation monitor KvehU8f5v0MhEQWOe4GNHave you seen this oxygen saturation monitor KvehU8f5v0MhEQWOe4GN
Have you seen this oxygen saturation monitor KvehU8f5v0MhEQWOe4GN

“To take a child’s medical equipment is one step too far, it’s heartbreaking.

“It’s useless to them, they can’t really sell it, the fact that someone took it just makes me so angry.”

Anyone with information about the theft or sees the monitor, owned by the NHS, or the bespoke bag, should contact police on 101 with crime reference number CF0410830717.