Moment shameless thief steals poppy collection box from butcher’s shop – before waiting to collect his change
- The thief targeted Alan Nicholson’s butcher shop in West Derby, Merseyside
- The masked man stole the charity collection box at 9.30am on Saturday
- The shameless thief even waited for his change before leaving the store
- Merseyside police confirmed they are looking for the suspected thief
This is the shocking moment a shameless thief steals a Royal British Legion collection box from a butcher’s shop while waiting for his change.
The masked raider made a purchase from D A Nicholson Butchers in West Derby, Merseyside on Saturday morning.
While the staff member’s back was turned, the thief reached over for the collection box and stuffed it inside his jacket while waiting for his change.
An unidentified thief wearing a face mask was captured on CCTV stealing a Royal British Legion collection box from Nicholson’s Butchers in West Derby, Merseyside on Saturday morning
The suspect hid the charity box in his heavy jacket while the staff member’s back was turned
The thief, pictured, waited for his change, despite having stolen the box moments earlier
Merseyside Police confirmed they are investigating the incident.
The shop’s owner, Alan Nicholson, shared a video of the incident shortly after it took place appealing for help in locating the suspect.
In the video, a man can be seen entering the butcher shop while digging into his pockets for change to pay for his goods.
After being served and left on his own, he can be seen eyeing up the poppy box sitting right in front of him on the counter.
He then quickly picks up the poppy box and quickly stuffs it into his jacket before zipping it back up just as the staff member comes back into frame.
After paying, the thief then waits around for his change before exiting the shop. #Mr Nicholson posted footage of the incident on his Facebook page.
He wrote: ‘Poppy box gone! Police have video and I think I know who it was. Just waiting to see him sitting around the village.’
Mr Nicholson, 61, said: ‘It is just so blatant. Taking a poppy box is just terrible.’
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: ‘It is with sadness that today (Remembrance Sunday, 8 November)when we commemorate those who lost their lives in conflict that we are having to appeal for witnesses to the theft of a poppy box from a shop in West Derby on Saturday, November 8.
‘At about 9.30am Saturday a man walked into a butchers shop on Mill Lane and stole the poppy box from the counter.
‘The offender is described as a white male, with black hair (slightly receding) and he had black framed glasses on top of his head.
‘He was wearing a dark coloured winter coat over a grey coloured top with a motif on.’
Merseyside Police confirmed this morning they are still hunting the alleged thief.
A spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘If you recognise him please contact @MerpolCC, or phone 101, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 0487 of Saturday, 7 November.’