Extra cops have sent to Dalry in response in rising youth disorder causing thousands of pounds in damage – including vandals ripping off a life-saving defibrillator.

North Ayrshire’s top cop says the shocking behaviour will not be tolerated and say with a number of offenders from around the Garnock Valley already identified for disorder and vandalism offences.

Sandra Scott of BeGreen in Dalry, who maintain hit out at the vandals after the the life-saving defib was ripped off on Saturday, September 14.

She said: “There has been some carry on with flinging eggs and various things and then they decided it would be a good idea to rip the defib off the wall. I can’t understand why they would do it, I can’t understand the logic of it.

“This thoughtless act could have cost a life because the unit was not available. I was really angry about it because you never know the minute. It’s the only one in this vicinity that 24/7 you don’t need a code.

“It’s been out of order for 48 hours until we got it sorted. I had to make arrangements to get it up and running again as soon as possible. It had to be checked over to make sure everything was okay as it had been lying about.”

“Thankfully by Monday afternoon the unit had been checked and refitted and is now available for use.”

Chief Inspector Brian Shaw said: “It’s disappointing young people are acting with such little regard for the importance of a device like that, that behaviour could have had a catastrophic affect if someone was to take a heart attack, how would they feel if that happened?

“There have been incidents of youth disorder over the last two weekends particularly in the Dalry area, involving large groups of youths congregating and damaging property, both dwelling house windows and buses. There has been incidents of eggs being thrown at moving cars.

“In response to that I have put additional police officers in that area to combat it and put together a criminal investigation into those matters which is ongoing.

“A number of youths have been identified and will subsequently be getting charged with a number of crimes related to the last two weekends acts of disorder and others are being actively sought.

“Both the community and myself are very concerned about these incidents with damage in the region of thousands of pounds caused by young people predominantly residing around the Garnock Valley area. It is very disappointing that they behave in such a manner and it will not be tolerated.

“In addition we are continuing to establish the identity of the individual who removed the defibrillator from the wall and enquiries are ongoing. “

If anyone has any information regarding this vandalism contact the police on 101.