Thieves smashed ambulance window, stole equipment during emergency call
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A team of thieves smashed the window of an ambulance and made off with several pieces of lifesaving equipment -- all while emergency workers were responding to a call, British authorities said Thursday.
Paramedics were returning to their ambulance in Hanley, Stroke-on-Trent, U.K., at approximately 1:30 am when they spotted the broken window, The London Economic reported.
Stolen from the ambulance were equipment including oxygen tanks, a stethoscope, a life support response bag and protective clothing, The Sun reported. The thieves also took several personal belongings including keys and a purse.
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Police were on the hunt for possible suspects Thursday.
Emergency operations manager Steve Rust told The London Economic that no paramedics were harmed -- but he could not “understand why someone would do this” to an emergency vehicle.
Chief Inspector John Owen also told the paper that the robbery simply was “not acceptable.”
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He continued, “Ambulance staff are there to help those in need, and for their own personal belongings to be stolen whilst they potentially save a life is just not acceptable.”
He urged anyone who may be offered the supplies to contact authorities. Staffordshire Police were investigating the theft.