The security situation in Bogotá remains alarming, with recent reports highlighting another attempted robbery targeting an emergency ambulance. This incident occurred in the Las Ferias neighborhood of the Engativá district on the night of July 22, when two criminals attempted to steal an ambulance.
The robbery unfolded while the driver stepped away from the vehicle, seemingly to request access to the parking lot where the ambulance was set to be stored for the night. Unbeknownst to him, two men wearing caps were lurking nearby, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. As captured in footage from Noticias Caracol’s Ojo de la noche, the crooks entered the vehicle just as the driver returned.
Upon realizing the robbery was in progress, the driver reacted quickly, getting back into the ambulance alongside the intruders. A struggle ensued in the cabin, resulting in the driver and the thieves losing control of the ambulance, which subsequently crashed into two parked cars just a few meters away.
The driver later revealed that the assailants attempted to stab him and assaulted him multiple times during the struggle. Despite the chaos, they managed to evade capture after crashing into the other vehicles. Witnesses attempted to pursue the thieves, but they successfully fled the scene, leaving behind the damaged cars.
Thankfully, the owner of the ambulance service expressed relief that the driver emerged unscathed. "Thanks to God, he didn’t sustain any injuries, and he helped prevent the situation from escalating further, as the assailants seemed oblivious to the dangers," he stated.
Despite the serious nature of the incident, local authorities refused to accept the driver’s report. The ambulance service owner described the response: "They told us that it wasn’t possible to file a report since the vehicle is still with us. It’s absolutely absurd. The driver risked his life and the lives of bystanders, and they claim it wasn’t a robbery."
This isn’t the first incident involving emergency vehicles in the capital. Earlier in June, there was an unusual kidnapping attempt in northern Bogotá, where armed men used an ambulance to attempt the abduction of a businessman as he parked his SUV in a residential area. Videos from the incident circulated widely on social media, showing the dramatic moments as the kidnappers pulled the businessman from his vehicle.
During the struggle, while one assailant threatened the victim, another armed man in a red car prevented his escape. Ultimately, the criminals managed to force the businessman into the ambulance before fleeing the scene.
Security cameras in the area recorded the moment the victim attempted to flee, capturing a black SUV trailing the kidnappers in an effort to assist. Currently, authorities are trying to discern whether this was a standard kidnapping attempt or what is known as a "paseo millonario"—a method where criminals follow and rob wealthy individuals. Adding to the uncertainty, neither the victim nor his family had received threats prior to the incident, leading the Bogotá police to continue reviewing security footage to understand the motives behind the crime.
Image and News Source: https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2024/07/23/intento-de-robo-de-una-ambulancia-en-bogota-termino-en-juego-de-carros-chocones-delincuentes-agredieron-al-paramedico/
