A man whom police say was behind the wheel of a Rockford ambulance that had been reported stolen was taken into custody Wednesday night after authorities spotted the rig rolling through Chicago’s West Side. Deputies stopped the vehicle near the 700 block of North Homan Avenue around 7:40 p.m., and the driver was arrested at the scene, according to officials.
According to ABC7 Chicago, the ambulance had previously fled Rockford police before turning up in Chicago, prompting a Cook County Sheriff's Department traffic stop that ended with the suspect in handcuffs. ABC7 reports that charges are still pending as investigators work to determine exactly where the vehicle was taken and how the theft unfolded.
Another High‑Profile Ambulance Heist This Fall
It is not the first time recently that Chicago-area law enforcement has had to deal with a stolen ambulance making a run for it. In November, CBS Chicago reported that a suspect allegedly swiped a Cicero ambulance from outside Loretto Hospital, triggering a police pursuit that ended in multiple crashes. During that chaotic chase, officers fired a weapon, though no one was hit, according to NBC Chicago.
Why EMS Vehicle Security Keeps Coming Up
Hospital personnel and emergency responders have been increasingly vocal about the risks of leaving ambulances running and unattended after a string of similar opportunistic thefts in the region. Hoodline previously examined the November incident and the scrutiny it brought to hospital security protocols in a piece on the daring chase through Austin. Authorities say they will be reviewing surveillance footage and incident reports in the Rockford-to-Chicago case as they decide whether to file formal charges.
Police have not released the suspect’s name or the specific Rockford location where the ambulance was taken. Charges remain pending while investigators continue coordinating details between Rockford and Cook County agencies.
