Calgary police are looking for the public’s help in tracking down a suspect in connection with the theft of the contents of a poppy donation box days before Remembrance Day.
At about 7:45 p.m. on November 8, police say a man entered a gas station in the 3100 block of 36 Street S.E. and proceeded to the unoccupied till.
He attempted to open a donation box that was left at the register, but noticed the clerk approaching, so he made an excuse and left the desk.
The man then proceeded to a Subway sandwich shop, attached to the gas station, and ordered a sandwich to distract the worker there.
While the worker made the sandwich, the man opened the donation box at the till there and emptied it.
He told the worker he would be right back and then left the store, driving away in newer model blue Chevrolet sedan.
According to surveillance video obtained at the location, police say the licence plate was from out of the province and had blue writing on it.
The suspect is described as:
- Caucasian
- 5’5” to 5’7”
- Medium build
- Shaved head
He was seen wearing a red zip-up hoodie and a black ‘Hell or High Water’ t-shirt, blue jeans, and blue and black Adidas sneakers.
Police say that 39 poppy box thefts have been reported to the Service this year, almost twice the number reported in 2014.
Three people have been charged in connection with six incidents so far this year.
Anyone with information about this incident or the identity of the man to call the Calgary Police Service non-emergency line at 403-266-1234, or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
TYPE: www.calgarycrimestoppers.org
TEXT: tttTIPS to 274637
