One person is in custody after stealing a private ambulance in Niles, Illinois, on Tuesday afternoon.

Niles police said just before 4 p.m., the department was notified of a stolen vehicle from the Portillo's restaurant at 8832 W. Dempster St. That's where they said the suspect, only described as a male, got into a running private Lifeline ambulance and took off with the medic still inside.

The thief got onto the Tri-State Tollway in an attempt to escape as police gave chase, but he was stymied by ongoing roadwork. The thief even activated the ambulance's lights and sirens to try to get through the gridlock, but there's no shoulder for other drivers to pull onto and nowhere for anyone to go.

So with the description of the stolen vehicle in hand, police quickly surrounded the ambulance and pulled the suspect out of the driver's seat.

The suspect was taken into custody, and the EMT in the ambulance was rescued. No injuries have been reported.

The ambulance is now on the shoulder of the southbound Tri-State at Ogden near Hinsdale as the investigation continues.  

Niles police said they will release more information as it becomes available.