A woman who helped bring life-saving equipment to a north-east village, only to see it stolen, has described the theft as “horrifying.”
A public access defibrillator was taken from its box in Oldmeldrum Market Square between noon on Wednesday and 2pm on Thursday last week.
Kaye Cowie, the secretary of the Oldmeldrum, Bourtie and Daviot Community Council, urged whoever took it to bring it back.
She said: “The theft was reported to me.
“The community council raised thousands of pounds to have four defibrillators put in place earlier this year, three in Olmeldrum and one in Daviot.
“It’s just shocking and horrifying, it’s a potential life-saving equipment which has been stolen by someone.
“We think it could have been a prank by kids and if that is the case I would appeal to them to bring it back.”
Inspector Jamie Harrison, of the Formatime community policing team, said getting the device back was necessary to “keep people safe.”
He said: “This is a senseless crime that has resulted in vital life saving equipment being deprived from the community in Oldmeldrum.
“At present I don’t know what the motive for this crime is but I want to emphasise that beyond anything, the most important thing here is to get this device back to help keep people safe.”
Anyone with information is urged to contact Police Scotland on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.