A man has been arrested after a poppy donation box was stolen from a business in Port Moody’s NewPort Village.
According to a news release, Port Moody police (PMPD) were called to the business Monday evening, Nov. 6, when staff saw a man cut and make off with the small white donation box.
They were unable to immediately locate the suspect.
But after further investigation that included surveillance video from inside the shop, he was identified and arrested in Port Coquitlam on Thursday, Nov. 9.
PMPD spokesperson Const. Sam Zacharias said the 50-year-old man is well-known to police and charges will be recommended.
“These types of incidents do seem to resurface in November each year unfortunately,” said Zacharias, adding the business had done everything it could to prevent the theft including securing the poppy box. "It appears this thief was fairly goal-oriented and there likely was not much this business could do."
Zacharias said anyone witnessing someone trying to pilfer a poppy box should call 911 immediately.
“These incidents certainly resonate with our community as a whole and we treat them seriously.”
The Royal Canadian Legion's annual poppy donation campaign runs from Oct. 27 to Nov. 11.
The money raised provides assistance to veterans from the Canadian Armed Forces and the RCMP including grants for food, emergency shelter, medical prescriptions and equipment, transition programs, accessibility modifications as well as support for cadet units, veteran drop-in centres and the promotion of administration of Remembrance activities.
Anyone with further information about the incident can contact PMPD at 604-461-3456 and quote file number 2023-6423.
