Charity volunteers were left shocked and upset when they arrived at a church for the Poppy Appeal collection box, to find it had been stolen.

The theft was reported to police when members of the Royal British Legion went to pick it up on Tuesday, November 15.

Gravesend Poppy Appeal organiser David Taylor said: “You’ve got to be pretty low or pretty desperate to steal from a charity.

“We can’t know how much was in the box when it was taken but Chalk church usually has a healthy amount of money donated.

“It’s upsetting and frustrating, but these things do occur.

“I’ve never known it to happen in Gravesham over the three years I’ve been organising the appeal, but there were similar reports in Sussex this year. You’ve got to take the rough with the smooth.”

The average amount in a box is around £50, but some contain substantially more.
The Rev of Chalk church Nigel Bourne said: “It’s a terrible thing, and shocking that anyone could have done this.”

He realised the box was missing on the morning of Remembrance Sunday, and the community clubbed together for a second collection later than day.

Mr Taylor said: “Its very sweet of them to do that, and when you see things like that, you have to look at the positives.

“People in the borough are incredibly generous and they come out to support us every year.”

It comes just a week after Mr Taylor’s son, George, reported a Stanley Knife blade being found in one of the donation buckets, and another box was stolen in Headcorn.

This year is still set to be more prosperous than ever though, with the borough having already smashed last year’s total of £42,000.

They have broken the £50,000 marker, with more still to be counted.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: "Kent Police received a report that a poppy collection box had been stolen from St Mary’s Church, Chalk, between October 18 and November 15.

"It is unknown how much money it may have contained."

Anyone with information can call 01474 366149 quoting reference XY/045659/16. Alternatively call Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.