Mindless thugs have targeted a key lifeboat station in Dundee
Three vandals tampered with equipment on board a boat at the Broughty Ferry base on Saturday night.
The incident happened at about 7.40pm and was caught on CCTV.
RNLI bosses said the damage had the potential for ‘lives being lost’.
He also claimed that had any of the vandals fallen in the water, the all-weather lifeboat may not have been able to get to them in time because if the damage.
They have now urged witnesses or anyone who knows those repsonsible to come forward.
The spokesman said: “At 7.42pm on Saturday April 2nd we had three unexpected and unwelcome visitors to our station.
“Three youths were caught on our cctv hanging about the station before proceeding to climb around our security gate on the jetty.
“All three were then seen to make their way up to the all weather lifeboat.
“Some time later the crew member of BF RNLI were doing routine checks when they found that the ropes securing the lifeboat had been tampered with, along with the davit (used for lowering and removing equipment on and off of the boat).
“It took him around half an hour to sort this to make the lifeboat ready for service again.”
And the furious spokesman added: “Such acts of wanton vandalism not only delay an emergency response from the RNLI but also have the potential to for lives being lost.
“The irony of it is that had any of the intruders fell into the water one of the lifeboats may not have been unable to get to them on time due to this vandalism.
“The RNLI is a charity that relies on using any monies raised to keep the the lifeboats and station operational 24/7/365.
“Any costs incurred through such wreckless acts diverts this money to repair or replace any equipment.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “On the evening of Saturday, 2 April, police received a report of youths vandalising the lifeboat station in Broughty Ferry.
"There was no trace when officers attended and suitable advice was provided.
“Officers have now become aware of footage being circulated on social media and will carry out further enquiries into the incident.”
- Anyone with information should contact the Broughty Ferry Lifeboat crew on 01382 779956.
**Don't miss the latest headlines from around Dundee and Tayside. Sign up to our newsletters here .
And did you know Dundee Live is on Facebook? Head over to our page to give us a like and a share .
