This is the photo that shows the sickening depths a thief plummeted to on Tuesday night.
A sign on the dashboard of this van makes clear it is being used by the NHS to transfer patients to hospitals.
Yet the message only served to tempt the ruthless criminal into action as they smashed their way inside and stole precious protective equipment.
The "patient ambulance" was targeted while parked on Greenham Avenue in the Tower Hill area of Kirkby.
At some point between 10.30pm on Tuesday and 5.45am on Wednesday the driver's side window was smashed open so someone could get inside.
Once in, they rifled through belongings and stole a box of gloves, face masks and hand sanitisers - sought after equipment that those on the frontline of the battle against coronavirus are currently desperate for.
That the owner's bag and belongings were dumped at the end of the road showed just how selective the thief had been.
They had also taken prescription sunglasses and some Beats wired headphones.
Community Inspector Peter Rexwinkel today slammed the incident as a " despicable offence ", saying it had sparked outrage in Kirkby.
He told the ECHO the sign in the front window of the van meant the vehicle may have been targeted and said: "This offender has shown a complete lack of empathy to our colleagues in the NHS."
He added this was the first offence of this nature he had heard of in Knowsley and said: "We are asking anyone in the local community with information about who has carried out this offence to come forward."
He also urged people not to leave equipment and valuables in a vehicle overnight.
*Anyone with information can contact Merseyside Police on 101 or through Twitter (@MerPolCC) with the crime reference number 20000193044.
You can also call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111
