Fire department to change protocols after ambulance theft

The Calexico Fire Department is looking into changing its protocols after one of their ambulances was stolen last Friday.

The ambulance was stolen while first responders transferred a patient to El Centro Regional Medical Center.

Fire officials said the keys were left in the ignition which is a standard protocol.

Fire Chief Diego Favila said, “Throughout the nation, everybody’s kind of left the ambulance like that because it’s one of those things that’s untouched.”

They’re now reconsidering changing their security procedures.

“We’ve had a lot of outreach from different agencies throughout the United States. They dropped in Facebook messages and tell us this is what kind of plans they implemented. So we’re most definitely going to look at all the options,” added Favila.

Thankfully nothing was stolen from the ambulance.

Favila added, “Everything was intact. They didn’t mess with anything. They just used it for a ride.”

19-year old Fidel Armando Supnet is accused of stealing the ambulance and is facing multiple charges.

Executive Commander Alvaro Ramirez of the El Centro Police Department said, “Mr. Supnet was charged with two different charges. One of them is a vehicle code violation for the actual theft of the ambulance and the second is a penal code violation for being in possession of a stolen vehicle.”

The Calexico Fire Chief said that with the recovery of the ambulance, they’ve been able to fully operate and continue serving the community.