A McMinn County woman is behind bars after police say she broke into an Englewood fire station overnight and stole an ambulance.

Authorities say 41-year old Terri Efaw broke into the fire station on Carroll Street and drove straight through the large bay door early Saturday morning.

“The ambulance crew heard a vehicle start up,” said Englewood Fire Chief Billy Roach. “They heard the racket, came outside and she was driving straight through the bay doors.”

Storms that moved through the area last week knocked out power to the security system on the doors so Efaw was able to break in without alerting authorities.

“This week we had storms and the power went off,” Roach said. “We have electronic codes on them and once the powers out, if the battery back up doesn’t kick in, it unlocks the door.”

They say Efaw only made it about two miles before she was stopped by police. Englewood police officer Nick Purkey told us when the call came out, they immediately began looking for the ambulance. 

Authorities spotted it on Highway 39 and with the assistance of the McMinn Sheriff’s Department were able to stop the vehicle on Highway 30 in Athens by blocking her in.

Officials estimate the damage to the door at $3,000 and the ambulance at $5,000. The ambulance is valued at $100,000.


Efaw was arrested without incident. Authorities said she told them she was pregnant and had to rush to the hospital. She is charged with theft, vandalism, and criminal trespassing.

She’s currently at the McMinn County jail on an $11,000 bond.