AICHI, Apr 27 (News On Japan) –
A 57-year-old man was arrested after allegedly stealing a hearth engine dispatched to a suspicious fireplace close to a railway station in Aichi Prefecture, then crashing it about 9 kilometers away whereas trying to drive again to his house in Chiba Prefecture.
Police stated the suspect, who claims to reside in Kisarazu, Chiba, stole the car at round 4:30 a.m. on April 26 from the rotary space outdoors Meitetsu Kowa Station.
Witnesses stated the hearth engine appeared to have rammed into one thing, with seen harm to its entrance part.
According to investigators, the person instructed police he had no cash and wished to return to Kisarazu. He allegedly stated he set fireplace to the wall of a ladies’s restroom on the station in order that firefighters would arrive, giving him an opportunity to steal the car.
While three crew members had been away checking the scene, the suspect is believed to have pushed off within the fireplace engine. He was later stopped and arrested by pursuing cops close to railway tracks in Taketoyo, about 9 kilometers from the station.
The fireplace engine had reportedly been left unlocked with its engine working so it might instantly start pumping water if wanted. Firefighters had positioned wheel chocks behind the rear tires however had not shut off the engine.
The Chita Nanbu Fire Department stated this was commonplace working process throughout emergency responses.
Officials from one other fireplace division stated locking a hearth engine whereas protecting the engine working could be extremely impractical throughout lively firefighting operations, as crews often want fast entry to onboard tools and shutting down the engine might delay water discharge.
The unprecedented theft of an emergency car throughout a callout has prompted the Chita Nanbu Fire Department to evaluate its administration procedures and take into account preventive measures.
Source: CBC Television News from Japan