PSNI warning over attacks on Defibs
A total of 24 defibrillators were either stolen, damaged or tampered with in Northern Ireland last year.
Last updated 16th Mar 2017
The devices can be the difference between life and death for people who have gone into cariac arrest.
However, the PSNI were forced to go to scenes where the equipment had been ripped from the walls of shops and kicked down nearby roads.
Of the 72 incidents officers dealt with:
- 32 were requests for assistance
- 6 were reports of damage having been done
- 3 were incidents of defibrillators being tampered with
- 15 were for stolen defibrillator reports
Chief Superintendent Simon Walls said it was a pointless crime.
"A judge in a county court, for certain types of theft, can impose a sentence of up to 10 years imprisonment," he said.
"If someone steals jewellery or something they can sell it on, but with a defib, I don't think that's the case.
"I don't know of any market for second-hand defibs.
"I've seen lots of crimes over 20-odd years but this is one I just can't get my head around this one, it's just so stupid.
"It could be them standing outside that shop, clutching their chest and it could be them that needs that defib.
"It could be their mother, their father, their grandmother and they'd have that on their conscience."
The presence of a device able to shock a heart back into its normal rhythm can often be vital for the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service too.
John Wright is Assistant Director of Operations with NIAS and said the window for them to save the life of someone in cardiac arrest is very small.
"In the first ten minutes, you lose about 10% of your cardiac function every minute."
"What saves lives is the early recognition, the early CPR and the early shock.
"So if the defib that we've sent someone for isn't there, then a key element in the chain of survival has been removed and the person may not survive.
"In fact it's very likely they won't."
The Henderson Group are leading a campaign to get a defibrillator installed at every one of their stores in Northern Ireland and of the 24 incidents in the last year, 12 have been at their stores.
Both the PSNI and the NIAS are urging people to think before they steal or damage a potentially life-saving piece of equipment.
If you wish to get in touch with your own story about defibrillation, or cardiac experience, you can email news@downtown.co.uk or contact us on social media https://www.facebook.com/officialcoolfm/ or @coolfmnews on Twitter.