A man is in custody after a brief but attention‑grabbing chase involving a stolen ambulance in North Houston on Saturday, according to authorities. Police said the pursuit began around 12:30 p.m. near the Shepherd Drive exit off I-45 and wrapped up on Irvington Boulevard near Collingsworth Street. Officers did not immediately release the suspect’s name or share additional details about how the ambulance was taken.
What Police Say
The Houston Police Department confirmed the basic timeline to FOX 26 Houston, which reported that the stolen ambulance moved from the North Freeway to Irvington Boulevard before officers brought it to a stop near Collingsworth Street. The station said the chase started near the Shepherd Drive exit around 12:30 p.m., and that one person was taken into custody once the vehicle was stopped. As of that report, officials were keeping other details close to the vest.
How This Fits Into a Pattern
The incident is the latest in a string of stolen-ambulance cases reported in Houston in recent weeks. On Jan. 14, the Houston Chronicle reported that officers had located an ambulance that was allegedly taken from St. Joseph Medical Center earlier in the week. Local broadcasters have also noted that fire officials say unattended keys and older reserve units with spotty GPS technology can make tracking down stolen rigs trickier than it should be. ABC13 has reported that officials still consider ambulance thefts rare, although they can seriously disrupt emergency operations when they do happen.
Investigation Ongoing
Houston police said the investigation is active and have not yet clarified whether the ambulance involved on Saturday was a city-owned unit or a vehicle from another provider. Possible charges also have not been announced. FOX 26 Houston reported that no further information was available at the time of its story.
