It’s a despicable crime that made one Calgary man especially angry. A growing number of headlines about stolen poppy donation boxes compelled Dan Kroffat to create a solution.
Koffat spent the last year designing a prototype: a metal box with a cable attached to it that could be fixed behind the vendor’s counter.
“This is ridiculous. Where’s the compassion? I got mad.”
“We needed to recreate the box,” Kroffat said. “Studies tell us the majority of poppy box thefts are spontaneous theft, so we can eliminate that.”
Some argue it’s a sad reality when society has to come up with a way to stop thieves from stealing from veterans. Canadian Air Force veteran John Ferguson said he’s disgusted by these crimes of opportunity. Last year alone close to 40 boxes were swiped in Calgary.
“I would like to get a hold one of those people in a room by myself for about a half an hour.”
All the money donated to the poppy fund helps veterans young and old. It also offers financial support to the Veterans Food Bank.
“People forget we are dealing with younger veterans,” Joey Bleviss with the Calgary Poppy Fund said. “Take a look at the Alberta economy and we’re noticing more and more into the poppy office looking for our assistance.”
Fifty boxes will be placed at businesses in Cochrane as a test market to gauge if it’s an effective deterrent. The head of the Cochrane Legion Dave Usherwood applauds the idea.
“We got gas bars, convenience stores and other areas of high risk. The people working there turn their back and there’s an opportunity to grab and run.”
The cost of the prototype boxes was funded by Cochrane Toyota. If the concept works – a corporation has agreed to sponsor the anti-theft boxes around the country. It’s hoped they can be distributed to the legions at no cost to them.
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