Back in the mid to late 1980s, my service had a few instances where crews left the cabs of their ambulances unlocked and as a result those ambulances were stolen. Most were recovered, a couple of people were arrested. One was totaled when the thief crashed into a bridge abutment and since he fractured his femur, he couldn’t run away.

After that unfortunate incident the bosses decided that enough was enough and from about 1985 onward every department vehicle was equipped with an anti theft switch. The first ones were manually activated and even if the keys were left in the ignition stepping on the brake pedal would cause the engine to stop running. Later on they were easier to use and crews were told to flip a switch in console and then turn the ignition off and most importantly take the key out. 

I only remember once in between then and when I retired in 2012 having a vehicle stolen. That was because the paramedic ignored the part about take the key out. 

Which is why this astounds me,

Video released of pursuit of stolen Calif. FD EMS vehicle

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dramatic video released Tuesday shows the intense pursuit of a stolen Sacramento Fire battalion chief’s truck through city streets.

The chase, which involved a California Highway Patrol helicopter and several ground units, ended after spikes were deployed and police vehicles surrounded the suspect in the stolen truck.

The city-owned F-150 pickup truck was stolen the evening of May 19 from Sacramento Fire Department Station 12, on the 4500 block of 24th Street in South Land Park .

Granted, this was parked inside the station not at a scene. It does however bring up two questions.

1. Was the station wide open? Could someone just walk in and take whatever they wanted, including a vehicle?
2. Was there a reason that the key needed to be in the ignition?

Here is a company that specializes in emergency vehicle kill switches. In fact, I believe that they invented the concept. 

This might not help if a vehicle is parked in it’s garage or other place, but it certainly will make scenes more safe when on responses. Besides it will avoid those oh so embarrassing situations when the crew comes outside with a patient on the stretcher only to find an empty spot where just moments ago the ambulance was sitting waiting to be stolen.

Some video from the pursuit,

https://news.sky.com/video/police-chase-stolen-fire-engine-11758254

Here is a news story from all the way over in Florida back in 2021,

Florida firetruck stolen while crew responded to call

If I worked for a company that sold anti theft devices for emergency vehicles I know who I’d be calling today.