Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment a thief broke into an on-call ambulance and stole from paramedics – while they treated a patient.
The “despicable” thief was caught on camera smashing into an ambulance that was responding to a 999 call in Birmingham.
He battered his way through the ambulance’s window and stole paramedics’ personal belongings, as they treated a patient at a nearby home.
The ambulance was parked up at the roadside in at around 9pm on Sunday (October 28) when the appalling theft took place.
An onboard CCTV camera shows him check no one was watching before breaking into the ambulance.
He climbs into through the driver side window before running off with personal possessions, including an iPhone.
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has released the footage in a bid to track the person responsible down.
Nathan Hudson, WMAS’ emergency services operations delivery director said: “I cannot begin to understand why someone would do this to an emergency blue lighted vehicle which has the sole responsibility of helping people.
“It really does make you question the morals of some people.
“This despicable crime has meant an ambulance is off the road and unable to respond to 999 calls whilst it’s being repaired; money which would’ve been better spent elsewhere in the service to help respond to patients.
“It is unacceptable that ambulance staff, who are there to help people in their hour of need, are made to suffer by members of the public.
“Any type of attack against our staff and our vehicles will not be tolerated. I am just thankful that, on this occasion, my staff weren’t hurt.
“If you are able to help to solve this crime, please come forward.”
WMAS are appealing for anyone who has information about the incident, witnessed anything suspicious at the time of recognise the individual to contact the police.
Anyone with information should call West Midlands Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting crime number 20BW-249810Q/18.