Three life-saving public access defibrillators were stolen from Coomba Park and Pacific Palms over the Easter weekend.
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The defibrillators were stolen from Pollard's General Store at Coomba Park, Pacific Palms Pharmacy at Blueys Beach and the Coomba Park Aquatic Club.
The defibrillators at Pollard's General Store and Pacific Palms Pharmacy had only been in place since December, after members of the Pacific Palms Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) raised funds to ensure the community had access to the life-saving equipment.
Pacific Palms SLSC grants officer, Pat Powell, said her and her fellow club members were horrified.
"We just can't believe three of them would go over the weekend," Ms Powell said.
"For someone to take life-saving equipment is just incomprehensible."
Ms Powell said the first defibrillator was discovered missing at Pollard's General Store on Sunday morning, before a subsequent check revealed the one at Pacific Palms Pharmacy had also been taken.
A phone call from a member of the Coomba Park Aquatic Club confirmed a third defibrillator had been stolen.
Thankfully, the public access defibrillator at Smiths Lake was left untouched.
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Ms Powell said the thefts were suspected to have taken place between the afternoon of Saturday, April 11 and the morning of Sunday, April 12, when they were reported to the police.
While the police were currently looking into the crime, Ms Powell said the two communities had been left in precarious positions in the meantime.
"If somebody had a heart attack and you had to wait an hour for an ambulance to get here, it could be the difference between life and death," she said.
"The beauty of them was that anybody could use them."
Anyone with information relating to the thefts is urged to contact Forster Police Station on 6555 1299.
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