Police in Kaohsiung arrested a woman on Saturday after she was caught stealing an ambulance. The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. when the ambulance was left unguarded at the Veterans General Hospital. Nurses had just taken a patient into the emergency ward, leaving the vehicle idle.
Surveillance footage showed the woman approaching the unattended ambulance and driving off with the rear door still open. By the time the nurses returned to move the vehicle, it had disappeared. They quickly alerted the police.
Using the ambulance’s GPS system, officers tracked the vehicle’s location as it headed toward Kaohsiung’s port area. As the ambulance continued on its route, officers noticed that it was using its siren while the rear door remained open.
Harbor police soon began following the ambulance, which led them to a pier. Half an hour after the theft, police officers detained the woman when she stopped at the location.
The woman, identified as Tsai, is 41 years old. She will likely face charges for stealing an ambulance and disturbing public order. Police confirmed that she is being held for further investigation.
The incident has raised concerns about public safety, especially regarding the security of emergency vehicles. Kaohsiung police have stressed the importance of maintaining strict oversight of public service vehicles, particularly in hospital settings.
This case serves as a reminder of the growing importance of surveillance and GPS technology in tracking down criminals. In this case, stealing an ambulance was swiftly detected, and the suspect was apprehended within a short time.
