A 48-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the theft of poppy donation cans in Nanaimo.
The suspect was located and arrested by a plain clothes Nanaimo RCMP member at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
The suspect has been released on a promise to appear in Nanaimo provincial court Nov. 17. Police are recommending two charges of theft under $5,000.
Police said the suspect was identified by tips from the public after the suspect's image was published by media.
The first theft was reported from the 7-Eleven at 1602 Bowen Rd. shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday, but had actually occurred sometime earlier in the morning and was discovered when a poppy drive representative came by to replace the tin. Security video from the store confirmed the theft.
A poppy drive donation tin was also taken from the Beaufort Centre Pharmasave at about 3 p.m. The tin had been secured by a thin wire that was snipped.
"Each year we investigate numerous thefts of poppy donations and sadly most are preventable," Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said in a press release.
Police recommend donation tins be secured to counters by screws, a chain or cord that is hard to cut or remove. Staff should also be vigilant and report suspicious behaviour or thefts immediately.
Anyone with information about the thefts, please call the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, text 274637, keyword Nanaimo, or online at www.nanaimocrimestoppers.com.