A hospital was broken into overnight as crooks attempted to steal an ATM machine during a national health crisis.

Police were called to Barnet hospital at 2am this morning, Sunday, March 22.

The staff restaurant area at the Wellhouse Lane hospital has been broken into and an ATM had been tampered with; officers are working to establish whether any cash or other items was taken.

In a tweet, Royal Free London NHS Trust which runs the Chipping Barnet hospital, said: “Our staff restaurant at Barnet Hospital is open as normal this morning despite someone breaking in last night to steal the ATM. We have no words! Police are aware.”

The hospital, like most across the country, is currently dealing with coronavirus pandemic.

Public Health England has so far confirmed 81 Covid-19 cases in Barnet, one of the top ten local authorities in the UK for confirmed cases.

A spokesperson for the trust added: “At a time when our staff are all working incredibly hard to care for patients with COVID-19, it is hugely disappointing that someone has broken into the ATM in the restaurant at Barnet hospital."

Barnet MPS tweeted: “We were called at around 2am to a restaurant area broken into at Barnet hospital in Wellhouse Lane. An ATM was tampered with; we await confirmation of cash or any other property stolen during the burglary. NorthWest BCU investigating.

“Anyone with info please call 101 ref 476/mar22”