Ambulance's sat-nav screen stolen

The unit was is useless once removed from the vehicle

An ambulance has been withdrawn from service after its satellite navigation screen was stolen while it was on call at a house in Lancashire.

A paramedic crew were called to Olive Lane in Darwen on Tuesday to treat a patient with chest pains and while they were in the house the screen was taken.

A North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) spokesman said the vehicle was still able to take the patient to hospital.

Until a replacement screen is fitted it will not be fully operational.

Ian Barton, from NWAS, said the screen would be useless once removed from the vehicle.

"NWAS relies on the satellite navigation system to ensure our paramedics reach calls in the quickest possible time and the nature of this sort of crime has a knock-on effect for patients in the area.

"It is intolerable that they have to look over their shoulder in this way.

"Any perpetrator being arrested for such an offence can not only be charged with theft but could also be prosecuted under the Emergency Workers Obstruction Act which carries a maximum £5,000 fine and a custodial sentence."