MEDICAL equipment, medicines and laptops have been stolen from the back of ambulances in Scotland, putting lives at risk.

New figures have revealed that while paramedics were working, thieves have helped themselves to a range of items from the emergency vehicles.

Radios, paperwork and vehicle parts have all been pinched in the last three years. A total of 31 items have been taken, including personal possessions belonging to crew members.

The thefts have been described as "despicable" and there have been calls for the public to help ensure those responsible are brought before the law.

The Scottish Ambulance Service stressed that the laptops taken were encrypted, and the paperwork thefts have been reported to the Information Commissioner for Scotland. Any mobile phones stolen did not hold patient information on them.

The Scottish Conservative Party obtained the figures about the crimes using Freedom of Information legislation.

John Lamont, chief whip for the Scottish Tories, said: "The idea of thieves targeting ambulances while paramedics attempt to save lives is sickening.

"People will be disgusted that this has occurred so many times across Scotland over the last three years.

"There may well be questions for the ambulance service about security of vehicles, but paramedics can hardly be expected to worry about break-ins while patients' lives are at risk.

"Clearly the contents of ambulances make for appealing rummaging among some crooks."

He described the crime as "the lowest of the low" and said the thieves must be treated accordingly if caught.

The West Central Division of the Scottish Ambulance Service appears to have experienced the highest number of thefts, with 13 recorded in the financial years 2011-12, 2012-13 and 2013-14. This compares to six in the East central region.

Equipment has also been stolen from a special operations response division vehicle, while ambulances at the Scottish Ambulance Service academy in Glasgow were also targeted.

Nevertheless the number of thefts is small compared to the total number of calls which are attended by ambulance crews in Scotland every year. In the last three years they have responded to more than 1.5 million emergencies.

A Scottish Ambulance Service spokesman said: "Any theft of equipment from an ambulance has the potential to put lives at risk and all such incidents are reported to the police."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "As the front line of NHS services in Scotland, our ambulance service respond to 700,000 calls per year, around 500,000 of which receive an emergency response.

"Delivering patient care is the absolute priority of ambulance crews and it is despicable that mindless thieves capitalise on these situations to steal equipment. Not only is the equipment on board vital to the ambulance crews but it could also be potentially dangerous in the wrong hands.

"Whilst NHS boards have in place security policies, procedures and systems to ensure the security of personal property and equipment, we would also call on the public to be vigilant and continue to work closely with Police Scotland to ensure those caught stealing from ambulances are brought to justice."