The moment the thief took
the collection tins

by Dan Bloom

A mobility shop is offering a reward to catch this brazen thief
after he swiped two charity tins.

The man stole the boxes from Rochester's Ability Outlet, which
sells scooters, stairlifts, sticks, seating and incontinence
aids.

Video footage above shows him taking two tins that had been
gathering funds for six months for the Kent Air Ambulance Trust and
the Wisdom Hospice, Rochester.

The High Street firm's owner, Graham Johnson, admitted the £50
reward was more than the cash stolen but said there were principles
at stake.

The 45-year-old, whose mother Julia died in the Wisdom Hospice
eight years ago, said: "This was very, very low and it's a bit
upsetting.

"It is a sad situation if somebody finds themselves in a
position where they need to steal from a charity box.

"I know unemployment leads to certain things but we have to
encourage young people not to behave like this."

"stealing a charity box is a despicable crime…” – pc dan hunt

Mr Johnson, who also owns shops in Rainham and Sheerness, has
released CCTV of the incident on last Thursday at 2.40pm.

It shows a man walking past the shop, doubling back, looking in
the window, then pushing the door open and quickly taking the blue
and green plastic tins.

He is thin, probably in his 20s and wearing a white-and-dark
tracksuit top, dark trousers and a dark baseball cap.

Mr Johnson, who is offering £50 to anyone who provides
information leading to a conviction, said his staff ask customers
to donate in exchange for the shop's free wheelchair hire
service.

He added: "We left ourselves open, leaving the tins by the door,
but I'm still disappointed."

PC Dan Hunt said: "Stealing a charity box is a despicable crime
and I find it difficult to understand someone stealing money from
charities who rely on kind donations from members of the
public.

"We are very keen to speak to anyone who may have information
about this crime, particularly anyone who was in the High Street at
the time."

If you have information call PC Hunt on 01634 792347 or
Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.