THE manager of an Andover community centre has slammed “thoughtless” thieves who stole a defibrillator just a fortnight after it had been installed.

Alistair McQuarrie, trustee and manager of Burghclere Down Community Centre, says he was “stunned” to find the lifesaving device missing during a routine check on Friday 15 July.

It is believed the equipment, which had only been fitted to the building at the end of June, could have been stolen anytime in the previous seven days.

The defibrillator, which is worth around £1,500, was stored in an unlocked container outside of the centre to allow easy access in an emergency.

Mr McQuarrie said: “It’s very sad, really really sad.

“Those who stole it are thoughtless because that equipment is there to save lives.

“It wasn’t kept in a locked box or in the centre because we felt people needed to have access to use it.

“We believe it was kids who stole it but the thing is it is there to protect lives not to be played with.

“If it was kids then I think it is time we educated children about the importance of defibrillators because they can’t be taking things like that.”

The stolen defibrillator was handed into the police on Monday and subsequently returned to the community centre.

However Mr McQuarrie, who has been involved with the centre since it opened in 2004, says that some of the parts are missing and that it will take time before the defibrillator is available again.

He said: “The pads, the top cover and the carrying case haven’t been returned.

“The bulk of it and the electronics are all safe but we don’t know what has been done with it so we will have to have it recalibrated.

“I’m happy that we have got the main part back and we will try and get it working as quickly as we can.

“But we will have to look at ways in which we can store it in the future so this doesn’t happen again.”