Derby Evening Telegraph
DERBY, England — Thieves stripped a British Red Cross ambulance of its doors, flashing blue light and luminous yellow bonnet.
The Land Rover Discovery was parked with other ambulances at Red Cross House, in Matlock Green, Matlock, when it was targeted.
As well as the bonnet, which bore the word “ambu-lance " and Red Cross logos, a sat-nav was also stolen, a police spokesman said.
He said: “We’ve released an image of a similar vehicle in our appeal for information.
“The ambulance is very recognisable because of its markings and we hope someone will have seen the stolen items in the area.”
Tracey Worsey, the manager at the Red Cross base in Matlock, confirmed that one of its Land Rover 4x4 ambulances was damaged overnight between Thursday, October 25, and 8am the following morning.
She said: “We’ve borrowed a replacement vehicle and hope to have our ambulance back on the road shortly.
“This is exactly the time of year, when the weather starts to turn, that our Land Rover 4x4 ambulances really come into their own.
“They allow us to reach people who need us even in remote areas. We would urge anyone with information on this to contact the police.”
Ms Worsey said the Land Rover, which is used by volunteers and staff for first-aid at events and emergency response work, is currently being repaired.
She said: “Other Red Cross vehicles are being used in the meantime in its place and extra security measures are now being taken.”
A separate incident in the Derbyshire Dales has seen a council trailer containing 20 road signs, traffic cones and a tarmac chute stolen from outside a pub. Police say the theft happened between 9pm on October 26 and 12.15pm on October 27, from outside the Red Lion, in Hollington.
The Derbyshire County Council trailer was in the area as work was due to be carried out locally on Monday, October 29.
A spokesman for Derbyshire County Council said: “Cases like this are rare.
“Equipment would normally be taken back to the depot over the weekend but this was left secured in the car park as improvements on the road were due to continue on Monday morning.
“We would urge anyone with any information to contact the police.”
Officers want anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously to contact them.
Anyone who has information on either incident should call 101.
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