EDMONTON – A container filled with donations raised from selling poppies – money used to support our country’s war veterans – has been stolen, and Edmonton police are looking for the man believed to be responsible.
The theft happened this past Sunday afternoon at a northeast Edmonton convenience store on 118 Avenue and 50 Street. Police say a man entered the store, purchased a few items, and picked up the poppy fund container without anyone noticing before exiting the store.
It wasn’t until later on, when a customer asked about getting a poppy, that staff realized the donation box was missing.
Police believe the suspect is between the ages of 25 and 30; he’s described as 6’2″ and 220 pounds, and was wearing a dark style jacket with white trim, as well as a black cap with black sunglasses around the rim.
It’s not the first time something like this has happened. Last year, police say there were 14 poppy fund thefts in Edmonton. The individual involved in those was eventually caught and charged, according to police. And in 2010, charges were laid in another string of poppy fund thefts in north Edmonton.
Police think this year’s theft will strike a chord with people.
“Remembrance Day is coming up, you have good people donating their money to veterans who have already given so much, and now somebody’s taking from them,” said Cst. Ted Dyck, from the EPS’ North Division.
“The loonies and toonies collected during the Poppy Campaign go directly to pay for food, shelter, medical equipment, prescriptions, and basic necessities of life for our Veterans and their families,” explained Wayne Donner, President of the Royal Canadian Legion, Alberta-Northwest Territories Command.
Last year, $450,000 was raised through the Poppy Campaign from the roughly 3,500 donation containers across the city.
William Fecteau, with the Royal Canadian Legion Poppy Fund, has the following message to the person behind the theft:
“Before you decide to steal a poppy box, think twice – think of where the money is going, think of how you’re robbing the veterans and the community at large for whatever small amount that you may get from the poppy boxes.”
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