Winnipeg firefighters responding to a call at Portage Place Mall were shocked when they looked back to where they had parked their squad unit only to see it was gone.

Police were called and found the unit a few blocks away on Portage @ Sherbrook thanks to a concerned citizen.

Turns out that a Winnipeg resident noticed something wasn’t quite right and he followed the fire truck through traffic. When the vehicle stopped the citizen jumped into action removed the keys from the truck and wrestled the thief out of the vehicle.

There was no damage to the vehicle and it was returned to the fire department.

The person who stole the truck and took it on a joy ride was arrested and given another experience, riding in the back of a police car wearing cuffs.

-News4 Staff-