5 poppy box donation thefts in Calgary

There have been five reports of poppy box donation thefts so far this season, Calgary police said Monday.

One of the thefts was reported to have occurred Monday morning at the Tim Horton’s on Shawville Boulevard S.E.

In 2015, police said there were 39 reports of poppy box thefts, up from 17 reports in 2014.

The latest theft comes two days after the Calgary Poppy Fund launched its annual campaign at Chinook mall, two weeks ahead of Remembrance Day.

Like the Veterans Food Bank, the poppy fund has been affected by the drop in oil prices and layoffs in the city.

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SPECIAL COVERAGE: Surviving the Slump

“We have a lot of our veterans and their widows and dependents…with the increase in the cost of living and the way the economy is, it’s really important that we make sure that those that are still with us are well looked after,” Calgary Poppy Fund chief administrative officer Joey Bleviss said Saturday. “And the citizens of Calgary are very, very good about ensuring that the poppy fund is viable enough to maintain their standard of living for them.”

Watch below from Oct. 27: The Veterans Food Bank is overwhelmed by demand and facing empty shelves. Gary Bobrovitz reports.

1:49 Veterans food bank desperate for donations as holidays approach

With files from Carolyn Kury de Castillo