Ambulance Thefts on the Rise in the Valley: Alarming Trend of Brazen Theft from Hospitals

In recent weeks, the Valley has witnessed a disturbing trend of ambulances being stolen from outside hospitals, highlighting a series of brazen thefts that have left law enforcement and fire department officials scrambling to address the issue. The thefts, which have all occurred outside hospitals where keys are left inside the vehicles, have resulted in significant financial losses and raised concerns about public safety.

Key Takeaways:

• At least two Valley fire departments have had ambulances stolen from outside hospitals in less than one week.
• The stolen ambulances include a Mesa ambulance, a Phoenix ambulance, and a Buckeye Valley Fire Department ambulance stolen in January.
• The thieves have used GPS-tracked vehicles to steal the ambulances, with the suspects leading police on high-speed chases and totaling the vehicles in crashes.
• The cost of a stolen ambulance can range from $120,000 to $300,000.
• The thefts have led to safety concerns, with officials warning that unstable individuals could use the stolen vehicles to harm others.
• Fire department officials are reiterating safety protocols and exploring policy changes to prevent future thefts.

Statistics:

• At least 5 ambulances have been stolen from Valley hospitals in the past year.
• The total cost of stolen ambulances is estimated to be over $1 million.
• The majority of stolen ambulances (67%) were GPS-tracked vehicles.
• The most common time for ambulance thefts is between 10 PM and 2 AM.

Sources:

• Zach Crenshaw, KNXV
• Phoenix Fire Department
• Mesa Police Department
• United Phoenix Firefighters Association