Police are asking the public to be on the lookout for a man accused of stealing two boxes of cash and Remembrance Day poppies from North Vancouver businesses Tuesday night.
The first theft occurred at a Lonsdale Avenue drugstore at 9 p.m., according to police.
An athletic white man sporting a grey hoodie likely waited until staff was distracted before swiping the poppy box, according to Cpl. Richard De Jong, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman.
Approximately 20 minutes later, the Flanders Field foe allegedly struck again at a nearby gas station.
While paying for a small amount of gas, chocolate bars and cigarettes with loonies, toonies and quarters, the man allegedly grabbed the poppy box from the counter.
Police aren’t releasing the amount of money stolen, but it could be a lot, according to De Jong.
“People are quite generous. It’s not just loonies and toonies, people will put bills in there,” he said.
Stealing the poppies during a pending poppy shortage is particularly egregious, according to De Jong.
“People give to the poppy fund out of respect and remembrance,” De Jong stated in a press release. “When someone steals a poppy box they are taking money from someone who has served our country.”
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
