Veterans charity left 'disgusted' after thief targets defibrillator

A veterans charity’s defibrillator was left inactive after parts of the lifesaving kit were stolen in North Lanarkshire.

Veterans Community Lanarkshire, based on Shieldmuir Street, Craigneuk, supports individuals who served in the military and their families.

The team had a community defibrillator installed in March 2024, which can be used by anyone in the area who needs it.

However, the life-saving piece of equipment had to be listed as inactive after operations manager Marina McQueer discovered the electric pads had been taken.

The pads are a crucial part of the defibrillator as they deliver the electric shock to a person in cardiac arrest. Veterans Community Lanarkshire

“The defib is open to the public, and when we saw it was left open, we inspected and found that the pads had been taken,” Ms McQueer told STV News.

The pads are a crucial part of the defibrillator as they deliver the electric shock to help restore a heart’s normal rhythm and analyse its rhythm during cardiac arrest.

“The equipment was donated to the charity last year, and we haven’t had an incident. We didn’t put a code on it because it’s for the wider community, and to help people who need it,” she added.

Ms McQueer added she was “disgusted” by the theft, saying: “What if one of the veterans or a member of the public needed it? They couldn’t have used it because we had to mark it as inactive.”

Veterans Community Lanarkshire is a charity that supports individuals who served in the military and their families. Veterans Community Lanarkshire

“I was so sickened, it was heartbreaking, my mum has a pacemaker and my dad has heart failure – this equipment is lifesaving.”

The price to replace the pads is £174, a cost that will fall on the charity, which already relies on donations and fundraising.

To help get the defibrillator up and running again, Ms McQueer has set up a Just Giving page so they can purchase enough spare pads to avoid listing the equipment as inactive again.

“We’ve had nothing but support from the community, they’re also disgusted by it, they’re wanting to know why someone would do this, everyone’s shocked,” she said.

The incident has been reported to police and local councillors.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 9.25am on Thursday, June 26, 2025, we were called to a report of a theft from premises in Sheildmuir Street, Craigneuk, Wishaw.

“Enquiries are at early stage.”