Five Poppy Appeal collection tins stolen in Tadcaster

As the nation prepares to honour those who have died so that others may live in freedom, thieves in Tadcaster have been stealing the money designed to help veterans of the British Armed Forces.

Jean Ashton has been involved with the Poppy Day collections for the last 20 years and has been organising them herself for the last five years.

She said that five of the collection tins had been stolen and the Royal British Legion could have lost up to £100.

The tins have been taken from Tykes Tea Rooms in High Street; Tadcaster Library; the Tea Lounge in Chapel Street; Eades Dentist, in Kirkgate; and Bromet & Sons Solicitors, also in Kirkgate.

Mrs Ashton said the thieves should think about who they were stealing from.

She said: “It’s very sad, very sad indeed that people are giving money to the Poppy Appeal to help ex-Service men and women and it’s sad that these people can just roam about and grab collection tins that don’t contain a vast amount of money.

“I don’t think they appreciate the sacrifice and don’t realise that we have people out in Iraq and Afghanistan who are getting killed.

“It’s a pity they don’t join the Army and do a tour of duty themselves.” She said the Royal British Legion appreciated collection tins in places such as pubs were more at risk of getting stolen. It provided chains so the tins could not be taken, but she would not expect collection tins in “genteel tea rooms” and solicitors’ officers to be targeted.

The thief who took the tin from Tykes may have been caught on camera though, as there is footage of a young girl who is then believed to have left by a back door.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said anyone who had any knowledge about the thefts should phone 0845 6060247.

He added: “Those responsible are the lowest of the low, and it is particularly saddening that they should take advantage of others’ generosity at a time when the nation is remembering those who have paid the ultimate price for the country.”