Mortician van stolen in Lancaster while picking up body, officials say

LANCASTER, Calif. (KABC) -- A mortician van was stolen while the driver was picking up a body in Lancaster on Saturday, according to authorities.

Officials said the vehicle was stolen from 11th Street East at about 8:15 p.m. after the driver left the rear door open in preparation of bringing a body outside.

Another van had to be called in to pick up the body and take it to a funeral home.

"It's tragic to see certain people do that to this neighborhood, to the family whose loved one is not actually here with us so I mean really there's no consideration at all. So it's disappointing," the driver said.

The van was described as a white 2013 Dodge Caravan with California license plate number 7HIW371 and a plate holder that reads, "Mortuary Transportation."

Anyone with information that could aid detectives in their investigation was urged to call the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Lancaster Station at (661) 948-8466.