?'MINDLESS VANDALS' tried to steal a defibrillator from an Isle of Wight library — potentially putting lives at risk.
The lifesaving equipment, stationed at Sandown Library for people to use in an emergency, was vandalised on Thursday, last week.
It follows a similar incident at the end of October, when a defibrillator was stolen from Haylands Primary School, Ryde.
The would-be thieves have been branded 'mindless vandals' by the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service.
Defibrillators are lifesaving equipment and members of the public have been trained to use one in an emergency. Anyone of any age or fitness can suffer a cardiac arrest and may need a defibrillator.
Urging people to be vigilant, head of ambulance training and community response services Louise Walker described the attempted theft as 'very disappointing.'
She said: "Any suspected or known vandalism should be reported to the police, who are already investigating the current incidents."