We were passed what the dispatcher was pretty certain was a hoax call. "Don't go yet," he said. "I'm calling the ringback number." The call had come from a phone box close to the station, and, when the dispatcher rang it back, the phone was picked up by a passer-by who gave a good description of a child of about 11 legging it up the road. The dispatcher called us back to stand us down, the meanwhile telling my partner what had happened. With a cry of "There's the little bugger now!" my partner shot out of the door, apprehending said miscreant with a terrifying roar of "You; stop right there!!!" The child - a girl - dithered about running, but, at that moment, the police - alerted by the EMDC - rolled up and took matters in hand. A significant adult (her mother) was duly collected, and off they went to the nick where the lassie was interviewed, AND CHARGED! About an hour later - tear begrat, and thoroughly chastened, she was marched, by her father, into the ambulance station, and made to stumble through an apology. He apologised too, telling us that she had been grounded for a fortnight, then marched her out again. OK, it was a sledgehammer to a walnut, and, of course, she received just a police caution. However, the effect of whirlwind-speed capture and thunderclap retribution should not be underestimated; the news evidently got round, because it was over a year until our next hoax call!