A Memphis woman turned a hospital driveway into a crime scene Thursday when police say she stole a private ambulance from Methodist North Hospital in the Raleigh neighborhood, then ditched the rig on Summer Avenue after a brief rolling search across the area.
Officers reported the ambulance was first seen heading through the Covington Pike and Raleigh‑Lagrange corridors before witnesses said it finally came to a stop on Summer Avenue. No injuries have been reported, and investigators are now trying to piece together how the emergency vehicle ended up abandoned on a busy city street.
According to FOX13 Memphis, the private ambulance was taken from Methodist North Hospital on New Covington Pike and later spotted in the area of Covington Pike and Raleigh‑Lagrange. The outlet reported that officers then saw the vehicle on National Avenue near Summer Avenue, briefly lost track of it, and ultimately found it abandoned on Summer Avenue. Memphis police canvassed the surrounding neighborhood and urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 901‑528‑CASH.
Earlier Thefts Point To A Pattern
This is not the first time an ambulance has gone missing in the Mid-South this year. A stolen Memphis ambulance was recovered in Arkansas after troopers ended a pursuit on April 17, according to Action News 5. Earlier in the year, a private ambulance was carjacked in the middle of the day on January 31 and pursued before the suspect was arrested, as detailed by Action News 5.
Police Ask For Help
Investigators said officers were actively checking the area for the woman involved in Thursday’s incident and asked anyone who might have video or other information to come forward. The Crime Stoppers tipline number was published by FOX13 Memphis. Police emphasized that tips can be submitted anonymously through Crime Stoppers and that getting the ambulance back into regular service remains a priority for emergency crews.
Why It Matters
Stolen ambulances have, in past cases, led to collisions and arrests, highlighting the risks to EMS crews and anyone else on the road. One such incident involved a stolen ambulance that crashed into a Memphis Police Department cruiser, a case covered by the EMS trade publication JEMS. Investigators in Thursday’s theft said that any footage or tip that helps identify the woman will speed up getting the vehicle fully back into service.
