Update:
SUDBURY -- The Greater Sudbury Police Service is looking for a suspect they believe is responsible for several poppy donation box thefts with the last week.
Police released a picture of the man they suspect has stolen six donation boxes from local businesses since October 23.
They are asking businesses to ensure that if they have a donation box that is accounted for and if one goes missing to report it to police.
Anyone with information related to the identity of the suspect is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.
Police note that even though these thefts have not been violent, they ask the public to not approach the person, but call police right away.
They also are urging businesses to remove donation boxes from plain sight when it is unattended, to regularly empty the box, and secure the donations in a safe location.
Original:
SUDBURY -- The annual Poppy Campaign just began Friday, but already, there has been a theft of a donation box at a Sudbury business.
Boxes of red poppies are distributed to businesses by local Royal Canadian Legion branches around the country. While the poppy pins are free, the donations collected through the annual fundraiser are one of the Royal Canadian Legion's most important programs.
It honours those who serve and those who have sacrificed for our freedom while raising money to provide direct support for veterans and their families.
Greater Sudbury Police Service confirms that they are investigating the theft of a poppy box from Sudbury Steam Cleaners on Walnut Street.
They say it happened on Friday, October 25 around 3 p.m., the day the campaign began.
Kaitlyn Dunn with Greater Sudbury Police Service says, "Unfortunately, thefts of poppy boxes occur every year."
Dunn says in 2017, there were over 20 poppy box thefts, but fewer in 2018.
According to Dunn, so far this year, there are two poppy box thefts that police have been made aware of.
The Poppy Campaign runs until Remembrance Day on November 11.
