Man in his 60s who allegedly stole an ambulance had an outrageous reason for his crime

A Texas man who allegedly stole an ambulance from a psychiatric hospital Thursday morning had a pretty simple explanation for his crime.

Police said the man, who was described as being in his 60s, took the vehicle so he could buy fried chicken and cigarettes, according to KHOU.

The ambulance was taken from Cypress Creek Hospital, a mental health facility in Houston, just after midnight. The man, a former patient at the hospital, was likely able to steal the vehicle because it was left outside with its engine running, 6abc reported.

Police were called around 2:30 a.m. Officers were able to electronically track the ambulance to a nearby gas station, where they found the man sitting in the vehicle with fried chicken and cigarettes.

The man had reportedly used the vehicle to run a number of errands, including a food stop at KFC. When asked why he stole the vehicle, he told police he needed a ride.

KHOU reported that the man was taken into custody and charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. His name has not been released.

The alleged ambulance theft wasn't the first crime this year to involve fast food cravings.

Last month, a Florida man broke into a Wendy's, where he turned on the grill and cooked himself a hamburger before stealing the restaurant's safe. Police later called him a "modern day Hamburglar."

A woman was arrested in New Mexico earlier this week after she refused to pay for her order at a Sonic drive-in. When the server asked the woman to pay for her meal, she allegedly told him, "This one's on God," according to the Las Cruces Sun-News.

In February, a man broke into a Popeyes in New Orleans and attempted to steal cash but settled for fried chicken after he failed to open the register. He was arrested on charges of simple robbery and simple battery.