Another poppy donation box stolen in Vernon

VERNON — They are a symbol of remembrance and respect and wearing them is a way that Canadians pay tribute to our war heroes. The annual poppy drive in the weeks leading up to Remembrance Day is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Canadian veterans. That’s why the Legion’s Vernon branch is upset after hearing of a second poppy donation box theft in the city.

“I mean, we are dissapointed when this happens,” says Poppy Chairperson at the Legion’s Vernon branch, Jenny Negraiff.

Management at the Tim Hortons on Highway 6 in Vernon and the city’s Legion branch both confirm the second theft happened at the Tim Hortons some time after 8 p.m. on Tuesday. A day before, a poppy donation box and a tray of poppies were stolen from Bosley’s pet store. The male suspect was caught on surveillance camera.

“You can see him grab the jar of money and you see him try to take it but he couldn’t get it off the tray so he actually took the whole tray and walked out the door,” says store manager, Dawn Vipond.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "You can see him grab the jar of money and you see him try to take it but he couldn't get it off the tray so he actually took the whole tray and walked out the door," says store manager, Dawn Vipond.

What she describes as a heartless act reduced Vipond to tears. What the community came together to do afterwards also reduced her to tears but this time they were happy ones.

“The first man came in and said I saw that something terrible happened here the other day I was wondering if this would help and that’s when he handed me the $100 bill and I was just, I was absolutely blown away and it made me cry,” says Vipond.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "The first man came in and said I saw that something terrible happened here the other day I was wondering if this would help and that's when he handed me the $100 bill and I was just, I was absolutely blown away and it made me cry," says Vipond.

Vipond says another person came in and donated $100 dollars to the poppy campaign. Following that, she says several others came to the pet store specifically to donate and lend their support after hearing about the theft. Vipond says the stolen donation box couldn’t have had more than $30 in it, which thanks to the community, has now turned into more than $230.

“It’s a really good feeling. It’s who we are as Canadians. I knew we all could do this and our community is just amazing and to have such a positive twist to something so negative is nice,” says Vipond.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's a really good feeling. It's who we are as Canadians. I knew we all could do this and our community is just amazing and to have such a positive twist to something so negative is nice," says Vipond.

Vipond says while it’s sad they’ve had to resort to this, the store is now taking extra precautions with donations.

WATCH: Vernon thief targets poppy donations