A Calgary liquor store has released CCTV video of a poppy box theft.
On Thursday afternoon, staff at City Liquor at 5255 Richmond Rd. S.W. saw a man lurking around. On the video, he grabs the poppy donation box and puts it in his jacket, but before he leaves, he pays for a bottle of liquor.
Once employees realized what had happened, they went after the man, chasing him through the parking lot, but weren’t able to catch him.
Police are hoping the video will lead to an arrest.
“It would lead us to an opportunity to perhaps reach out to the citizens of Calgary, by putting the photograph out there, or the images,” said Cst. Andrew Critchley. “I am sure somebody in Calgary knows who this particular person is.”
The theft is causing outrage. One customer in the store told Global News, “It’s outrageous; my dad was overseas for five years.”
Police said there’s not a lot retailers can do to prevent thefts, except to keep a close eye on the boxes.
“Businesses should try and maintain a constant visual on the box,” said Cst. Critchley. “I have seen measures where retailers are using chains to afix the box to a desk and I encourage people to maintain awareness of how much money is contained in the box.”
At City Liquor, the poppy fund box was back in its usual place and customers were back stuffing in cash.
“A lot of money,” said a store employee. “$5, $10 bills.”
The donation boxes collect money for the Calgary Poppy Fund, which is hoping to raise more than $2 million this year for programs to help veterans.
Similar thefts have been reported across the country. Police say there have been seven thefts in Calgary since the beginning of November.
Anyone who can identify the man in the video is asked to call Calgary police or Crime Stoppers.
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