Teenagers Arrested After Stealing Ambulance in Krabi
Two teenage thieves had an unusually unlucky day after stealing an ambulance from Krabi, running out of fuel mid-journey, and then daring to call the police for assistance—only to be arrested immediately.
The 19- and 17-year-old suspects had reportedly stolen a Toyota marked with “Khlong Thom Rescue and Emergency Association, Krabi” while it was parked with the keys left inside. The vehicle was intended for patient transport and emergency operations.
The incident unfolded when Trang police received a call reporting a stranded vehicle with no fuel on Wisetkul Road, near Wang To intersection in the Muang district. Officers, along with the local rescue team, rushed to the scene, where the suspects claimed they were rescue volunteers travelling from Krabi to deliver a body in Kantang district, Trang.
Police quickly noticed inconsistencies in their story. The two could not produce identification or carry any money or phones. Contact with the ambulance’s home base confirmed that no rescue mission had been scheduled, revealing the vehicle had been stolen.
The rescue team also recounted that they had received a call for fuel assistance from the same vehicle just minutes before police arrived. The suspects had apparently run out of petrol and had intended to ask the authorities for help—a decision that ultimately led to their capture.
Officials from the Krabi rescue unit explained that the stolen ambulance had been parked at their base with the keys left in the ignition for emergency use by volunteers. The teenagers claimed they merely wanted to visit relatives in Trang and planned to return the vehicle in the morning. Their plans were cut short when the vehicle ran out of fuel before reaching their destination.
The suspects are now in custody at Khlong Thom police station, where they will be formally charged and face legal proceedings.