Northbrook police said the ambulance was stolen from Swedish Covenant Hospital, located at 2739 W. Foster Ave. about 12:30 p.m.
Chicago police said nobody was inside the ambulance at the time of the theft.
Northbrook police responded to the 1000-block of Skokie Boulevard about 1 p.m. for the theft, the village of Northbrook said, and the ambulance was located.
A man was taken into custody.
No injuries were reported.
The investigation is ongoing, and charges are pending.
Chopper 7 was over a police investigation near Interstate 94 and Dundee Road in Northbrook.
Video showed officers investigating an ambulance in a parking lot.