Equipment stolen in burglary

A Middlesbrough practice could be forced to remain closed for a month following a break-in last weekend that saw testing equipment and nearly 200 designer frames stolen.

Thieves entered the premises of Optica Eye Clinic on Linthorpe Road through a second storey from the main road, before opening up the rear of the practice from inside.

The consulting room was cleared of nearly all of its contents. Equipment taken in the raid included the Henson visual screener, auto phoropter, Pulsair, ophthalmoscopes and even a Volk lens. The only item left in the room was the testing chair.

Thieves then moved to the second floor of the property to remove a Briot edger. The unit was moved around on an office chair before being carried down two flights of stairs. Nearly two hundred designers frames were also taken from the front of the practice.