'It's heartbreaking' - appeal after private paramedic all-terrain vehicle is stolen in Midlothian

A private ambulance firm boss has issued an urgent plea to help find one of their specialist off-road vehicles after it was stolen this week.

ABC Paramedics vehicle was stolen this week

Craig Gray, owner of Edinburgh-based ABC Paramedic Services & Training, said he is devastated after their all-terrain John Deere mini pick-up was taken in the early hours of Thursday morning.

After losing most of their contracted work due to the coronavirus pandemic, the firm planned to sell the vehicle to help stay afloat.

The company had been helping the NHS with rapid testing as well as providing volunteers to help after the recent cold snap left hospitals and the Scottish Ambulance Service struggling to cope with the influx of patients suffering from ice-induced falls.

Appeal: Craig Gray of ABC Paramedics

But Mr Gray, 49, said the theft was the “last straw” as he now fears the business might not survive.

The vehicle was taken from their garage in Newton Village, Midlothian. It was later spotted on the road towards Musselburgh or Dalkeith. Mr Gray said it had been seen since in the village of Morham heading towards Berwick with a trailer on the back.

Issuing the appeal on social media, Mr Gray posted: “Hi, I'm hoping the good folk of Facebook can help. We're a private ambulance service currently assisting the NHS. One of our off road vehicles was stolen from our yard at Newton Village and was seen driving towards Musselburgh or possibly Dalkeith.

"I'm hoping your awesome people can keep their eyes out for it, or even share the post. 3 youths wearing hoodies, one was driving what looked like a souped up Golf. Awaiting pictures/video's of the thieves which I'll put up as soon as they're supplied. Please share. Any information would be so appreciated."

The vehicles are used by the emergency services, gamekeepers, forestry and agriculture workers to access areas which are impossible for cars or 4X4s to reach.

Speaking to the Edinburgh Evening News today Mr Gray said: “This is devastating for us. It’s really the last straw. We had lost all our private work, like providing medical team cover for Edinburgh city football or private schools sports days. With the new lockdown our bookings have all been cancelled. I had a buyer lined up for the vehicle. We would have got about £14,500 for it. That could have helped keep us going until things open up again.

"Now we are looking at selling most of our equipment. I’m so disappointed to see this business that has taken nine years to build now fall apart.

"We will need to stop our volunteer work as well. We had been helping with mobile testing for disabled families to help make things safe for them in their family bubbles. We can’t keep doing that. Unless things open up again, it’s unlikely we will be able to survive. It’s heartbreaking.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “We received a report of the theft of a quad bike from a premises in Newton Village, Dalkeith, around 8.05pm on Friday, January 15.“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 101 quoting incident 3036 of January 15, 2021.”

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