Calgary

Poppy box theft suspect sought by Calgary police

Calgary police released surveillance images of a man suspected of stealing money from a poppy donation box at a gas station earlier this month in hopes the public can help to identify him.

39 poppy box thefts reported this year — nearly double the number from last year

Calgary police are looking to speak to this man in connection with a theft earlier this month. (Calgary Police Service)

Calgary police released surveillance images of a man suspected of stealing money from a poppy donation box at a gas station earlier this month in hopes the public can help to identify him. 

The theft happened Nov. 8 at 7:45 p.m. in the 3100 block of 36th Street. S.E. while the clerk was distracted making a sandwich for the man in the attached Subway shop.

A man suspected of stealing money from a poppy box at a Calgary gas station fled in a blue Chevrolet with out-of-province plates. (Calgary Police )

He told the employee he would be back, but instead left the parking lot in a newer model blue Chevrolet sedan. The car had an out-of-province plate with blue writing.

The man is described as Caucasian, 5'5" to 5'7" tall, with a medium build and shaved head. He was wearing a red zip-up hoodie with a black Hell or High Water T-shirt underneath, blue jeans and blue and black Adidas running shoes.

This brings the total poppy box thefts reported this year to 39, nearly double the number from 2014. Three people have been charged with six of the offences.

Police are asking 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 through Crime Stoppers.