Thieves stole a sat-nav system and a rucksack from an ambulance while paramedics attended to an elderly patient.

The incident has been described as despicable and anyone who knows the offender and his accomplice is being urged to shop them.

The incident happened in Saltings Road, Snodland, where paramedics had been called to help an elderly man who had fallen and cut his head.

While they were inside the house, witnesses saw one man get into the vehicle, while another kept watch outside.

They ran off together along Saltings Road and the ambulance crew returned to find the property missing.

Cllr David Keeley (Con), a town and borough councillor for Snodland, condemned the thieves.

He said: “It’s terrible. I can’t believe where these people come from. To steal at all is bad enough, but to steal from an ambulance while the crew is working to save someone’s life is utterly despicable.

“I urge anyone who has any information at all to get in touch with the police as soon as possible.”

Det Con Denis Fogel echoed his Cllr Keeley’s views. He said: “It seems unthinkable this person considers it acceptable to take property from an ambulance while it’s attending an emergency call. Someone will know who’s responsible for this and I ask them to contact police.”

A spokesman for South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust said: “Our crew’s satellite navigation systems help them reach emergencies as quickly as possible and provide potentially life-saving care.

“The actions of these individuals meant that lives were potentially put at risk.”

Anyone with information about the theft, which happened at about 5.30pm on Sunday, January 18, is asked to contact police on 01732 379217 (if possible quoting reference 893) or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.