Police report rise in theft of poppy boxes in Sudbury

Sudbury Legion members upset by thefts of poppy boxes. Police in Sudbury say more than a dozen poppy boxes have been stolen in the last few days. Claude Sharma reports.

As Royal Canadian Legion members get ready for Remembrance Day, many of them are upset by a sad trend.

Police say poppy boxes across Sudbury are being stolen from businesses.

“It's terribly disappointing." says Branch 76 member, Gisele Pharand.

Charley Skelly has been a legion member for close to three decades.

"When something like this happens, it kind of deflates everybody." says Skelly.

He says money raised from the poppy campaign stays local and is held in trust and goes to veterans in need, as well as their spouses and their kids. It’s also donated to a number of community initiatives.

Police say 14 boxes have been reported missing as of Tuesday, including one taken early this morning from the lobby of a downtown hotel.

"We are asking that business owners and employees who do have the poppy boxes to when you're not at the counter to maybe remove them so they are not as accessible to someone who is lingering and looking to steal it." says Kaitlyn Dunn of Greater Sudbury Police.

The Legion members say they have a message for people taking the boxes. "I'm sorry if they feel they need it more. I would just like people to honour the veterans. That is what I think is most important." Says Pharand.

Legion members say they are receiving calls reporting that even more boxes have been stolen. They say businesses can receive another poppy box but it's up to the owners and management if they want one.