New Westminster police are on the hunt for witnesses who may have seen a poppy box being stolen from a fast food restaurant in Queensborough just days before Remembrance Day.
According to the New Westminster Police Department, a poppy box was stolen from the A&W in the 800 block of Boyd Street around 9 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 8.
“It’s disgraceful and disheartening that someone would steal donations that support our veterans,” said NWPD spokesperson Sgt. Sanjay Kumar in a news release. “If anyone saw who took the donation box, we ask you to reach out to us.”
New West police believe there may have been other customers in the restaurant who witnessed the theft. The witnesses they’ve spoken with were unable to get a description of the suspect, but they believe he was wearing a hooded sweatshirt.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to contact the New Westminster Police Department at 604-525-5411.
The theft comes at a time when the Royal Canadian Legion is finding it challenging to get people out selling poppies like they did in the past, because of the COVID-19 pandemic..
Terry Leith, president of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 2, recently told the Record the money raised through poppy sales support initiatives in the community.
“A certain portion is for veterans that have difficulties; if they come in and they have problems with their finances and things like that, they come in here and apply for financial assistance,” he said. “A lot of it goes to Queen’s Park Hospital and Royal Columbian Hospital. We donate to the hospitals for different pieces of equipment; that’s where a good portion of it goes.”
