New Westminster Police have identified the man accused of stealing a donation box from the Royal Canadian Legion last week.
The alleged theft happened on Nov. 8 at the Legion branch on Sixth Street in New Westminster.
Police say the suspect entered the Legion around 2 p.m. and ordered food. After the man paid for his meal, staff noticed the poppy donation tin near the register was missing. They checked video surveillance and it appeared to show the man taking the tin before leaving, according to a press release.
Legion staff found the tin discarded outside. It was empty. It’s unknown how much money was in the tin when it was taken, Sgt. Jeff Scott told the Record in an email.
On the weekend, New Westminster Police released two surveillance images of the suspect in hopes someone would recognize the man. On Tuesday, Scott confirmed to the Record that the suspect had been identified and that charges were being recommended.
“Once charges are sworn, we will be able to release further information,” he wrote.
The theft at the Legion was one of three poppy donation thefts that happened in the city on Nov. 8. Police haven’t said whether the same man is the suspect in all three cases.
