Event first-aid service grounded by thefts

An Island company that provides event and industrial first aid and ambulance service has been forced to take its Victoria fleet off the road after a major theft.

Lyle Jordan, operations chief of Medix, said three ambulances were broken into at the company’s Boleskine Avenue station between May 15 and May 20. “We were on other projects that week and didn’t need the ambulances,” he said.

The thief, or thieves, broke in through the rear doors and stole about $30,000 worth of life-saving equipment, including defibrillators, medication, IV kits, electronics and more.

“Some of these things we absolutely need at events,” said Jordan. The company provides first aid for local events and festivals at a reduced rate.

“These items are not valuable to anyone but paramedics. There’s not huge money in them,” he said.

Jordan said the family-operated company has some insurance, but it does not cover all of the equipment. They also need to have a stocked ambulance service for upcoming events.

He said Saanich Police is investigating the theft, but he is appealing to those who stole the equipment, or know anything about it, to contact him.

“Please just bring the stuff back in good, working order,” Jordan said, adding he wants to help whoever did this. “There’s a reason for this theft. Let’s find you help to get away from this kind of behaviour.”