CCTV appeal to catch serial charity box thief (From The Westmorland Gazette)

CCTV appeal to catch serial charity box thief

4:20pm Monday 6th February 2012 in News

POLICE would like to speak to an elderly man after at least a dozen charity boxes were stolen from shops across three counties.

The offences have taken place between July 2009 when the Royal National Lifeboat Institution charity box was targeted at the Barclays Bank in Carnforth and most recently on January 27 2012 when a Childline charity box was stolen from Barclays Bank in Ingleton, North Yorkshire.

There was also a spate of offences at Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria in November 2011.

Officers believe all the incidents are linked and that the person responsible may be using public transport to travel between the various crime scenes.

Police would like to speak to a man described as white and aged in his 60s who may be connected to the incidents. He is believed to be around 5ft 6inches or 5ft 7inches tall with receding dark hair and usually wears glasses.

He is often captured on CCTV wearing the same medium length camel coloured coat and has previously worn woollen hats, and shirts underneath a jumper.

PC Ben Hanley from Lancashire Police said: “This is a despicable crime and I would urge anybody that recognises this man or with any information about the offences to contact Lancashire Police on 08451 25 35 45.”

People with information can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on-line at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.