Poppy donations from a third location in Winnipeg have been stolen.
According to two managers at a Sobeys in the 1800 block of Burrows, donations from a poppy box were stolen. One manager told CTV it happened Wednesday evening around 7:30 p.m. The store said it has surveillance video of the theft. Whether a police report has been filed, the manager could not say early Friday afternoon.
The manager at the Sobeys said the suspect is a man, likely in his twenties. The manager said the thief took the box from the customer service desk when an employee was on the phone.
The manager could not say how much was stolen but it had been sitting out for a number of days to collect donations.
"We are working with the authorities and providing information to assist in the investigation into this unfortunate incident," said Sobeys in a tweet.
A second box of poppies was stolen at a CAA location.
CAA Manitoba’s Angele Young of said the theft took place at a branch at 2211 McPhillips Street on Monday.
The branch has filed a police report. She said police are expected to arrive at the branch Friday to collect video of the theft.
Officers said there is no way to determine how much money was in the box at the time of the theft.
The first report of an alleged poppy box theft in Winnipeg this year occurred at a St. Vital restaurant. A manager at a Subway in the 1500 block of St. Mary’s Road posted photos to Facebook in hopes of catching the alleged thief. She said the suspect took the poppy coin collection box from the story’s counter, taking funds meant to support veterans.
Winnipeg police confirm it appears a theft happened at the store.
The Manitoba and Northwest Ontario branch of the Royal Canadian Legion said the thefts are disgusting but unfortunately happen every year. They want people to know the money is intended for veterans and their families.
CTV asked the legion group if it felt stores should secure poppy boxes at businesses. The legion group wants people to leave donations on their own accord and doesn't advocate that the boxes be chained down.
- with files from Beth Macdonell
