Do you recognise this man? He stole a Help for Heroes charity tin from a Romford pub at the weekend.
A Romford pub is appealing for help to find a thief that stole a Help for Heroes charity box containing more than £150.
The man, who is believed to be in his 30s, walked into The Bull in Romford Market Place just after 10am on Saturday (October 20) and unhooked the tin from behind the bar before stuffing it down his jacket.
The bar was relatively empty at the time, and it was only after checking CCTV that staff realised when the tin had been stolen.
Stephanie Hawkins, 24, is the assistant manager at the pub and said: “I can’t believe it, it’s absolutely disgusting.
“We thought that it had been taken on Friday night, but we then checked the CCTV and saw this man come into the pub and just help himself to the tin.
“None of us recognise him, so we need the public to help by sharing our appeal so we can find out who he is.”
The pub had held a 24 hour cycle event just a few weeks before, which raised £2,500 for the charity that helps injured soldiers.
Former serviceman John Burns from Upminster was one of the volunteers who took part in the event and he said: “I’m sickened by this.
“Every year at around this time it seems to be a trend of people doing this, and it’s disgusting.
“When it comes around the time of the poppy appeal lots of incidents like this seem to happen and lots of pots are taken.
“The fact that those men give their lives for our country, and someone abuses that by helping themselves is disgraceful.
“Donations from the people of Romford have been overwhelming in the past and it sickens me to hear that someone could do this.”
AP Wyatt, who also took part in the fundraising, told the Recorder: “It really saddens me that someone decides that their life deserves more money than those that have fought for our country and have been disabled as a result of it.
“The whole reason for Help for Heroes is to give a quality of life to those that have been injured whilst fighting for our country, and how someone could steal this money is beyond me.
“To have someone think they’re better than an ex-serviceman is absolutely disgusting.”
A Met Police spokeswoman confirmed that the incident had been reported yesterday (Sunday, October 21) and that officers are currently investigating.
No one has been arrested.
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