Police hunt vandals after public park defibrillator destroyed

Vandals have wrecked a lifesaving defibrillator set up to help members of the public who suffer a cardiac arrest.

Police are investigating the destruction of a public defibrillator cabinet during a vandal attack at Cromer Park, Cromer. Picture: Manly Warringah Football Association

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Police are hunting criminals who destroyed a lifesaving defibrillator at a football ground during a late night vandalism spree.

The heart starter, set up next to the car park at Cromer Park for use by the public, was attacked late on Saturday night.

Parts of the smashed $2000 defibrillator were scattered around the car park at Cromer Park. Picture: Manly Warringah Football Association

Officials of the Manly Warringah Football Association (MWFA) discovered the wrecked defibrillator just hours after the park hosted a match between the Pararoos — Australia’s national football team for athletes with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury or symptoms acquired from stroke — and their Canadian counterparts.

Parts of the $2000 device, which is used to help people suffering a cardiac arrest, were found strewn across the car park after it was wrenched from a special locked stand.

Police will use fingerprints and CCTV footage to investigate the vandal attack on the defibrillator and canteen at Cromer Park. Picture: Manly Warringah Football Association

The insensitive vandals then broke through the fence around Cromer Park, the home of the Manly Utd football club, and smashed their way into a canteen run by the MWFA.

As well as wrecking a rollerdoor above the counter, the criminals threw food around the kiosk including cartons of eggs.

MWFA CEO David Mason said the canteen had been “trashed”.

Mr Mason said the last football official left the ground at about 10pm on Saturday and suspected that the criminals struck sometime between then and 11pm.

Vandals trashed the canteen at Cromer Park. Picture: Manly Warringah Football Association

“After the highs of the Pararoos game this is very frustrating,” he said.

“It looks like they ripped the door off the zap stand that houses the defib and just destroyed it. It was found in pieces all over the car park.

“We take seriously any measure to protect the lives of players and the public so for someone to think that it’s a good idea to wreck a defibrillator beggars belief.”

Mr Mason said criminals had also broken into a corporate box at the ground on the previous night and stole bottles of alcohol.

Officials have now beefed up security at Cromer Park. Picture: News Corp

The MWFA has now increased security and strengthened the locks and bolts on all gates and doors.

Mr Mason asked anyone who had information about the break-ins to contact Dee Why police station.