Man to polish ambulances after trying to steal one

Shane Robert Bush wanted to go home so he hopped into an empty ambulance and tried to find the keys to start it ... but the only ride he got was to the police station.

He will spend 40 hours washing and polishing ambulances and hopefully learn to appreciate the work ambulance staff do. Judge Christopher Field agreed to this after Bush appeared in Hastings District Court yesterday for sentencing on a charge of taking an ambulance.

The court was told that Bush, 22, from Napier, was discharged from Hawkes Bay Regional Hospital emergency department and had no way to get home. "He approached the ambulance. He opened the driver's side door and climbed into the vehicle. He rifled through the ambulance in an effort to locate keys and attempted to start the vehicle," the police summary said.

The ambulance's driver approached Bush and grabbed the keys from the vehicle but Bush refused to climb out and waited in the driver's seat until police arrived.

"I would like him to do some work at St John Ambulance on a voluntary basis so he will have a greater appreciation of ambulance work," the judge said. If Bush completed the work he would be convicted and discharged when he reappeared in court on July 14.

- NZPA