Woman Arrested In Ambulance Theft In RivCo: Sheriff

COACHELLA, CA — A woman was in custody Wednesday on suspicion of stealing an ambulance in Coachella, authorities said.

Jacqueline Hernandez Reyes, 40, was placed under arrest Tuesday afternoon.

At approximately 10:15 p.m. Monday, Riverside County Sheriff's Department deputies responded to a report of a stolen American Medical Response, Riverside County ambulance, taken from the 49600 block of Cesar Chavez Street, according to Lt. Deirdre Vickers of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Nearly 24 hours later, a witness reported the ambulance in the 72000 block of Varner Road in Thousand Palms.

The caller said that a woman, later identified as Reyes, was inside the vehicle.

The charges against Reyes were not immediately released; however, according to the sheriff's department, she is facing charges of grand theft and vehicle theft involving an ambulance.

Riverside County Sheriff's Department advises all that if you see something, say something.

Lt. Stephen Davis of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department discussed the call that alerted authorities to the missing ambulance with KESQ, saying, "The public definitely aided in this endeavor for sure."

Patch has reached out to AMR for a statement regarding the theft of the ambulance, which will be added to this report upon receipt.