Police are trying to identify two suspects who they believe are responsible for stealing poppy donation boxes from Ajax businesses.
According to police, three separate businesses in Ajax – including an Esso gas station and Tim Hortons -- reported that their poppy donation boxes had been stolen on Sunday.
A forth incident was reported on Tuesday but it is unclear whether the box was stolen the same day as the other incidents.
The poppy donation boxes were placed at the businesses by The Royal Canadian Legion in order to raise money in support of veterans and their families.
“We’re not talking about a lot of money here, between $10 and $50 in there. The system is not going to be bankrupt because of it but it really is a sad reflection on what the criminal will do to get a few dollars,” Durham Regional Police Sgt. Bill Calder told CTV Toronto.
In an effort to identify a suspect, police have released images captured from surveillance cameras of two males.
The first suspect is described as a black male who is approximately 20 years old. He has long hair pulled into a ponytail, a beard and was last seen wearing red baggy pants and a black Carolina Panthers jacket with a poppy fixed to the left chest area.
The second suspect is described as a black male in his early 20s. He was last seen wearing a multi-coloured Columbia jacket, white baggy pants and white shoes.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact Det. Const. Alex McMillian of the Central East Division Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-888-579-1520, ext. 2726 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
