Stolen Ambulances Sold for Scrap Points to More Regulation

More than a dozen ambulances were recovered this week in a northwest Houston scrap yard, and law enforcement officials believe the ambulances are among dozens more that were stolen.

The ambulance service owners told the media that 40 of their trucks have been stolen over the last month. Then there was a break in the case when a GPS tracking system indicated some of the emergency vehicles were in the scrap yard in Houston.

The incident underlines the need for better security as well as better regulation of the scrap yard businesses.

Undercover investigators have one suspect in custody. They say it appears the culprits were selling the trucks for $500 and $700 at the scrap yard. The victims say their emergency vehicles are worth much more, with the equipment and everything, about $17,000 to $18,000.