Mystery of the stolen ambulance
After returning from a motorvehicle accident scene, the team of Vitalmed Ambulance Services noticed that they had been burgled.
The police and the owner of a private ambulance service are puzzled as to who would steal an ambulance.
This comes after an ambulance, which services the Roodepoort, Honeydew, Randburg and Krugersdorp areas, was stolen from its premises on Sunday 23 March.
According to Eric Nicholls who is the owner of Vitalmed, a private ambulance service in Randpark Ridge in Honeydew, the value of the stolen ambulance is more than R800 000.
Nicholls, clearly upset about the incident, says that he can not understand why anybody would steal an ambulance.
“The ambulance was parked at our base. We received a call of a motor vehicle accident at the corner of Blueberry Drive and Hendrik Potgieter Road and immediately went to the scene.”
He says that their services at the scene were not needed because the injured already was assisted by other medical services, therefore they returned to their base.
“Around 6.30pm when we got back, we noticed that our premises had been burgled. The gate was broken open, our property’s locks were tampered with and our ambulance was gone.”
Nothing else was stolen during the burglary, says Nicholls.
“Robert Leggatt, a new addition to our team of paramedics is quite upset about the incident.”
The ambulance (with registration number ND 216-753), called VM03 and the third ambulance Vitalmed possessed, is the second ambulance that they have lost in less than two years.
More than a year ago Nicholls had an accident with his first ambulance VM01 when it overturned while they were on their way to an accident scene.
He says that the latest incident is a great blow to his company.
“It is very difficult to continue with our services when we only have one ambulance to work with.”
Bernice Nel, the wife of Krugersdorp resident Deon, who suffers from motor neuron disease and who makes use of Vitalmed says that she is very sad and angry after hearing about the incident.
“It’s hard for me to think that criminals are stooping so low as to steal an ambulance.”
She says Vitalmed has assisted Deon many times by transporting him to and from the hospital when needed.
“The ambulance is used to transfer seriously injured and sick people in emergencies – it is used to save lives!”
She says that she hopes the thieves will be punished severely if caught.
Nicholls says that the ambulance has a tracking system and is insured.
Warrant Officer Karen Jacobs, spokesperson for the Honeydew Police confirmed that a case of theft was opened.
Anyone with information can contact Nicholls on 083 488 9989 or phone the police on 1 0111.
