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Ambulance stolen during 999 call Ambulance stolen during 999 call
(20 minutes later)
An ambulance on a 999 call was stolen while the crew were attending to a woman in her home. An ambulance on a 999 call was stolen from a driveway while the crew were attending to a woman in her home.
The vehicle was found a short time later abandoned after becoming stuck in the mud of a nearby common. The vehicle was found abandoned a short time later after it had become stuck in mud on wasteground close to a river.
The woman did not need hospital care in the alert in Bridgend early on Sunday, but the ambulance service has said it is "disgusted" by the theft. The woman did not need hospital care in the alert in Bridgend early on Sunday, but the ambulance service said it was "disgusted" by the theft.
Police said a man wearing red shorts was seen running from the ambulance after it had been dumped. South Wales Police said a man wearing red shorts was seen running from the ambulance.
The ambulance thief struck after paramedics were called to treat a woman in the Cefn Glas area of the town at around 0100 GMT. The ambulance thief struck after paramedics were called to treat a woman in the Cefn Glas area of the town at about 0100 GMT.
Nothing was stolen from the vehicle but it was damaged in a minor road accident. Nothing was stolen from the vehicle, but it was found to have been damaged in a "minor" accident with another vehicle, believed to be stationary at the time, before being abandoned.
These individuals could have placed someone's life at risk Andy Roughton, Welsh Ambulance Service It could have been the difference between life and death Rob Jeffrey, Welsh Ambulance Service
The vehicle was checked by a mechanic and senior officers and was returned to service by 0230 GMT.The vehicle was checked by a mechanic and senior officers and was returned to service by 0230 GMT.
The ambulance service has launched a joint investigation with South Wales Police.The ambulance service has launched a joint investigation with South Wales Police.
It is not known if the man with the red shorts was the only person involved. Rob Jeffrey, production manager for the ambulance service, said the vehicle "may well have ended up in a river" if it had not become bogged down in mud.
Welsh Ambulance Service Regional Director Andy Roughton said: "These individuals could have placed someone's life at risk. He said: "We're dismayed and disgusted.
"Thankfully on this occasion the ambulance was found quickly but I'm shocked and saddened that people could take advantage of someone else's misfortune." "Clearly, the people who took the ambulance were not aware of what we were dealing with in the home and any number of calls could have come in in that time.
"It could have been the difference between life and death."
He said if the paramedic crew had been dealing with a life-threatening emergency, a replacement ambulance would have needed to be despatched from Porthcawl.
Police are appealing for anyone with information to call them on 01656 655555 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111Police are appealing for anyone with information to call them on 01656 655555 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111