Fire truck stolen while crews helped patient

A Winnipeg fire truck was stolen briefly on Friday night, a city spokesperson says.

A Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service crew had left their department squad vehicle unattended while helping a patient near Portage Avenue downtown.

Responding crews went into Portage Place Shopping Centre. But when they looked back to the entrance, the flashing lights from their squad vehicle were nowhere to be seen, according toAlex Forrest, president of the United Fire Fighters ofWinnipeg.

Police were called and recovered the unit within minutes at Portage Avenue andSherbrookStreet.

Forrestsaid a local citizen spotted the truck and noticed something wasn't right. The person followed the truck through slow traffic and when it stopped, managed to pull the keys out and wrestle the suspect out of the vehicle.

There was no damage to the vehicle and Forrest said no items were missing from inside.

He added it is Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Servicepolicy to lock up vehicles when it is possible, but sometimes the trucks have to be left running and unlocked because crews need immediate access to equipment kept inside.