Civil Protection Rescue Vehicle Stolen in Tenerife, Hampering Emergency Operations

Emergency services in Güímar, Tenerife, are facing significant operational challenges after a Civil Protection off-road vehicle was stolen. The local Civil Guard has launched an investigation into the theft of the Nissan Patrol, which is a vital piece of equipment for rescue missions.

The vehicle, a 25-year-old former police car, was taken from the Civil Protection base on Hernández Melque Street in Tasagaya. Thieves scaled a three-meter wall and forced their way into the garage to reach the vehicle. Because the theft was not discovered until last Monday—and the vehicle was last seen on April 4—investigators fear that security camera footage may have already been overwritten, making the case more difficult to solve.

The loss is a major blow to the volunteer group. Beyond the vehicle itself, it was equipped with essential rescue gear, including communication radios, ropes, harnesses, helmets, and first-aid kits. José Francisco Fagundo, the group’s president, emphasized that the vehicle was crucial for emergency response, noting that it played a key role during the island's 2023 forest fires.

Investigators believe the vehicle may have been stolen to order or for its parts, as older Nissan Patrols are in high demand on the black market. Because tracking the vehicle is difficult, the organization is asking for the public’s help. Anyone who noticed suspicious activity near the base recently is urged to contact the authorities. The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of volunteer facilities, which often lack the high-level security needed to prevent such break-ins.