Emergency Van, Patrol Car Stolen

There was something a little different about the thief who stole a car in South El Monte, robbed a man and then led authorities on a high-speed chase into Riverside County before escaping on foot Thursday morning.

Maybe it was because the lights and sirens blaring weren’t just on the pursuing vehicles.

This was no ordinary car thief. His preferred ride: a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department patrol car.

And on the same day, another thief took a Los Angeles paramedic van, which led to a chase on the Westside.

In the El Monte case, a deputy had left the engine running with the keys in the ignition while he checked out a complaint on Broadmead Street. The temptation proved too great.

The deputy -- superiors refused to identify him -- wasn’t smiling.

“It was just a bad day,” said Sgt. Debra Herman, one of his supervisors at the sheriff’s Temple City station. “I’m sure this will play a big part in his retirement party in years to come.”

This car thief then compounded his crime. About 2:20 a.m. in the City of Industry, he impersonated a deputy and stole a man’s wallet.

With an all-points bulletin out for the stolen cruiser, an off-duty Montebello police officer spotted the patrol car on the Pomona Freeway about 4:30 a.m.

The ensuing pursuit reached speeds of 110 mph. The California Highway Patrol lost the suspect when he left the freeway in Riverside, abandoned his ride in the 7500 block of Diamond Street, and vanished.

Then late Thursday afternoon, a man stole a paramedic van from Midway Hospital Medical Center.

Jose Saenz, 44, was at the hospital being treated for chest pains when he began acting erratically, LAPD Officer Don Cox said.

Saenz allegedly ran outside, found the paramedic van with the keys inside, and sped off, Cox said.

The stranded paramedic flagged down a private ambulance and together they gave chase, racing through the Westside.

They spotted two bicycle patrolman, who radioed for assistance. The suspect was arrested near La Jolla and Orange avenues.