Appeal to bring back two defibrillators stolen in Teesside village
The lifesaving equipment saved 31 lives in total before the theft happened
We are hearing just how vital it is to have defibrillators in rural parts of Teesside after two were stolen in the same night from a village last week.
Around 8:35pm on Monday (9th June), the defibrillator box outside Skelton Civic Centre on Coniston Road was broken into. The bright orange defibrillator was taken, before a second defibrillator was stolen, believed to be on the same day, from Skelton Methodist Church in Skelton Green.
Len Welburn, Parish Councillor, said: "I felt angry and disgusted when I heard of all this. It beggars belief. Stealing these things are taking lives away. The defib, no doubt about it, saves lives and for rural areas, they're a must. You can wait anywhere from between our days four to six hours for an ambulance, even on a code red.
"Within three to five minutes someone receiving that defib is going to save lives. Every minute of delay reduces the possibility of signs of survival by 10 percent. Minutes are vital. Literally. Anywhere but more so in rural areas."
Sergio Petrucci, from the Red Sky Foundation, said: "It really, really makes me angry beacuse they're there to serve a purpose and that's to save somebody's life. Whoever's taken the defibrillator what are they going to use it for? They can't be used for anything else other than restarting somebody's heart.
"It's not like you can boil a kettle or make a piece of toast with them. You can't do anything other than restart a heart and ultimately saving somebody's life if they're in cardiac arrest. I really don't understand why they'd want to steal one.
"Those defibrilaltors would have been strategically placed however now that they've gone, if anybody needs one and has to dial 999, they're going to be directed to the next nearest one which could be several miles away which, in turn, would have a detrimental effect on the person that is in cardiac arrest because every minute really does matter.
"All of these defibrillators are logged with 999. Each individual one has a serial number which means that they can't be resold or put into service somewhere else without actually finding out that defibrillator's in the wrong hands."
Police are appealing for information and CCTV enquiries have been carried out.
The suspect is described as a white male, of large build, 20-35 years old, grey top, black bottoms, black cap, white trainers.
Anyone who knows the identity of the man, or has CCTV coverage near to these locations, is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101, quoting reference SE25106094.
Crimestoppers can also be contacted anonymously online at Crimestoppers or by calling 0800 555 111.