In December 2023, I wrote the article, “Respond in 8 minutes — Gone in 60 seconds,” a headline born of frustration, based on a rising number of ambulance thefts that, at the time, seemed both absurd and increasingly common. I had hoped that naming the problem might nudge the system toward solving it. After all, how could something so costly, dangerous and preventable not trigger action?
Fast forward 18 months, and I find myself returning to the same subject with even more urgency — and a stack of evidence that shows we still haven’t learned. In fact, since that original piece, the situation has worsened.
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Media data tracking
Thanks to the tireless monitoring of the AIMHI- and AAA-based www.EMSIntel.org team, who collect, curate and catalogue news and incident reports from across the EMS landscape, we now have a comprehensive look at what’s happened since. Their analysis uncovered more than 40 confirmed ambulance or EMS vehicle thefts since early 2024. And while each incident has its own nuances, the storyline remains strikingly repetitive: an unattended unit, an opportunistic individual and a rig gone in seconds.
Unlocked and unattended: The perfect storm
From the streets of Los Angeles, to rural North Carolina, from Las Vegas to Louisville, ambulances have been stolen from hospitals, scenes and stations, even while crews were treating patients. In New Orleans, an ambulance was taken while EMS was in the back actively working a patient. In Santa Rosa, California, a member was still inside the vehicle when a suspect took off, prompting not just a theft response, but a hostage scenario.
Some thefts were driven by desperation: patients discharged from hospitals, intoxicated individuals or those experiencing mental health crises looking for a way out or a way home. Others were simple crimes of opportunity: a vehicle left running; doors left open; a flashy truck, keys in it and no one around. That’s not a temptation — it’s an invitation.
We’re talking about highly visible, branded, mission-critical public safety assets disappearing with disturbing ease. Often, these vehicles are filled with narcotics, high-value medical equipment and sensitive patient records. They are rolling representations of our profession and our commitment to public trust. And they are being stolen not once in a blue moon, but again and again, month after month.
Many of these stories have made the media rounds because of their spectacle: high-speed chases, social media videos, spike strips, suspects crashing into trees or fire hydrants. But what doesn’t make the news quite as often, is our lack of systemic response.
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Ambulance theft prevention and cure
In 2023, I called for simple yet vital changes — like ignition controls, locking policies and secure handoff protocols. But too many agencies have yet to implement these steps. Too many vehicles are still being left running at ED bays or on scene with the hope that “just a minute” will be safe enough.
We wouldn’t leave our narcotics cabinet unlocked, yet we continue to leave the entire vehicle unprotected. The operational excuse, “We need to be ready to move fast,” no longer holds water when the consequences are this severe:
- When a medic is still in the back
- When a patient is left alone
- When a stolen vehicle barrels through intersections with lights and sirens blaring, placing the public police, and bystanders at risk
We often preach the importance of crew safety, but vehicle theft is a direct threat to that safety. It’s also a reputational wound. Each theft chips away at public confidence in our systems and makes it harder to argue for funding, for respect and for professional recognition.
Once an accident, twice a coincidence … but every 2 weeks come on!
We are long past the point of calling this a coincidence. Ambulance theft is now a known and growing risk: one we have the tools to mitigate but seemingly lack the will to address in full. There’s no excuse. The data is clear, the stories are real and the threat is not theoretical. Thefts are still happening, and more frequently. And we are still not doing enough to stop them.
I don’t want to write a third version of this piece a year from now. But unless something changes, I probably will.
Mapping the mayhem — A closer look at 18 months of ambulance thefts
Data courtesy of EMSintel.org AI was used for extraction and analysis and checked by a human.
While the idea of ambulance theft might once have seemed like the stuff of urban myth or Hollywood chase scenes, the last 18 months have painted a far more alarming reality. With over 40 confirmed ambulance thefts tracked between January 2024 and July 2025, the trend is no longer anecdotal — it’s systemic.
Thanks to EMSintel.org’s ongoing surveillance of EMS-related incidents across the country, we now have a clearer picture of who’s taking our trucks, where they’re being taken from and how often our industry is leaving itself wide open.
Where are ambulances stolen?
Thefts didn’t concentrate in one region — they happened across the map. However, certain themes emerged:
- Hospitals during offload. A large number of thefts occurred while medics were transferring care inside emergency departments.
- At the scene. Rigs left running during patient care or while gathering gear were stolen, sometimes with doors wide open.
- While crews were onboard. In at least three incidents, the theft occurred with personnel still in the unit, raising both safety and legal concerns.
- Ambulance bays and stations. Even “home base” isn’t immune. Some vehicles were taken during downtime or shift changeovers.
Cities and states with multiple ambulance thefts noted
While ambulance thefts were spread nationally, several urban centers or states appeared more than once in media coverage:
- California: Santa Rosa, Moreno Valley, Los Angeles
- Florida: Miami-Dade, Orlando and a rural EMS agency with a patient finishing a beer in the rig
- Texas: Houston, Brownsville and cross-border incident into Mexico
- Tennessee: Memphis had at least two publicized thefts within a year
- New York Metro area: High-speed chases and wrecks across the suburbs
The presence of high-population cities isn’t surprising, but smaller agencies weren’t spared. In fact, rural and mid-sized systems often appeared more vulnerable due to resource limitations and reliance on single-person crews or volunteer staffing models.
Who is stealing ambulances?
The profile of a typical ambulance thief varies, but clear categories emerged:
- Discharged hospital patients (seeking a ride home or to another facility)
- Individuals in behavioral health crises
- Substance-impaired or intoxicated persons
- Criminals attempting to flee the scene of another crime
- Opportunists, often with no EMS connection
While motivations ranged from desperation to recklessness, the root cause in nearly every case was access — an unsecured vehicle and a lapse in vigilance.
Common factors across ambulance thefts
EMSintel’s data reveals multiple repeated vulnerabilities:
- Keys left in the ignition. Often due to operational need for fast departure
- Vehicle idling unattended. Particularly at hospitals or during initial scene arrival
- No vehicle immobilization systems. Few units had ignition kill switches or tracking tech
- Delayed awareness of the theft. In many cases, crews were unaware the vehicle had been taken until it was too late
Outcomes and consequences of ambulance thefts
Not every theft ended in a collision, but many did:
- Crashes into stationary objects. Fire hydrants, trees, mailboxes
- Chases and arrests. Multiple incidents ended in police pursuit
- Property damage and injuries. Though rare, at least one incident involved injury to a bystander or medic
- Lost public trust. Each theft reflects poorly on agency protocols and public perception
And while most stolen ambulances were recovered, the costs — financial, reputational, operational — were real and lasting.
More than just a stolen truck
Each ambulance theft is more than a line item in a report — it’s a breakdown in policy, practice and culture. When an ambulance is taken from the field or the hospital bay, it’s a failure to protect a critical public safety asset. These thefts compromise 911 readiness, endanger lives and erode public confidence.
How many more incidents will it take before prevention becomes a top priority?
