A man crashed a $123,000 ambulance into a wall at a Joan's Heights residence after stealing it while two dispatchers attended to an 82-year-old woman on Saturday night, police said. Police said emergency medical service personnel were called to assist the woman around 8 p.m.

"On arrival at that residence both attendees came out and went to the residence, leaving the ambulance unattended, and at this time an individual lurking in that area, he got into the ambulance and drove off," Superintendent Clayton Fernander said. The Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) said as one crew member was returning to the vehicle to retrieve an item a neighbor informed the emergency medical technician that a male had "jumped into the vehicle and drove off". Another ambulance was dispatched to transport the patient to hospital.

According to Fernander, the thief hit two parked cars before crashing into the wall. The ambulance's front left fender and tire were damaged. Fernander said the suspect escaped on foot. Police appealed for anyone with information to contact police. "I would suggest to the Public Hospitals Authority that they revisit their operational procedures with respect to this latest incident," Fernander said. The PHA said the ambulance is a newer Type 1 Model in the fleet of PHA emergency vehicles commissioned in 2012.

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