Parcels were stolen from the doorstep of a doctor's home while both he and his partner, who is a GP, were at work helping patients.
Dr Ben Noble received a call from his wife Hannah, who was working from home, telling him four parcels had been taken from their address in Shady Lane, Attenborough.
The father-of-two was working as a duty doctor at the Woodbrook Medical Centre in Loughborough when the thief struck.
Dr Noble said: “It’s incredulous that someone would steal parcels from your doorstep and what’s even more galling is that it happened in broad daylight.
“At the time the parcels were delivered my wife was on the phone trying to help a mentally unwell patient, hence why she didn’t bring the parcels in.
“It’s just so bad that someone could do such a thing during these difficult times.”
The theft happened at around 4.40pm on May 4.
Officers investigating have released a CCTV image of a man they’d like to speak to in connection with the theft.
They are urging for anyone who recognises the man or who has any information about the theft to please come forward.
One of the stolen parcels, which contained bottles of drink, was found discarded nearby.
Dr Noble is also Primary Care Cancer Lead for the East Midlands Cancer Alliance, an NHS body set up to improve cancer diagnosis and care.
Last year he won an award for creating a unique online tool to help recognise cancer symptoms,
Inspector Simon Riley, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This is a despicable theft from two NHS key workers.
"It’s appalling to think that during the Covid-19 crisis some people are still seeking and taking opportunities to commit crime and cause unnecessary stress on people in what is already a difficult time.
“I’m appealing for anyone who recognises the man in the CCTV image to please come forward.
“If you have any information please call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 734 of 4 May 2020, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
