Police are again appealing for help tracing a man they want to interview in connection with a number of charity box thefts – relasing new CCTV images.
Police would like the public’s help identifying an elderly man they need identify after at least a dozen charity boxes were stolen from shops across Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
As we previously reported last month, the offences appear to have begun back in July 2009 when the Royal National Lifeboat Institution charity box was targeted at the Barclays Bank in Carnforth – and most recently on 27th January 2012, when a Childline charity box was stolen from Barclays Bank in Ingleton, North Yorkshire.
There was also a spate of offences at Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria in November 2011.
Police believe all the incidents are linked and that the person responsible may be using public transport to travel between the various crime scenes.
The man is described as white and aged in his 60s. He is believed to be around 5ft 6inches or 5ft 7inches tall with receding dark hair and usually wears glasses.
He is often captured on CCTV wearing the same medium length camel coloured coat and has previously worn woollen hats, and shirts underneath a jumper.
PC Ben Hanley from Lancashire Police said: “This is a despicable crime and I would urge anybody that recognises this man or with any information about the offences to contact Lancashire Police on 08451 25 35 45.”
• People with information can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or on-line at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.
Lancashire Thefts
1st July 2009 – Barclays Bank, Carnforth (Royal National Lifeboat Institution)
22nd November 2011 – Harris Pantry, Morecambe (MenCap)
10th December 2011 – Post Office, Scorton (North West Air Ambulance)
17th December 2011 – Cabus Garage, Preston (Help for Heroes)
21st December 2011 – Co-op Travel, Poulton-le-Fylde (MenCap)
21st December 2011 – Booths, Poulton-le-Fylde (Trinity Hospice)
Cumbria Thefts
14th November 2011 – HSBC Bank, Kirkby Lonsdale (Poppy Appeal)
14th November 2011 – NatWest, Kirkby Lonsdale (Poppy Appeal)
11th November 2011 – Post Office, Kirkby Lonsdale (Unknown)
North Yorkshire Thefts
6th September 2011 – Barclays Bank, High Bentham (MacMillan Cancer)
23rd November 2011 – HSBC Bank, High Bentham (NSPCC)
23rd November 2011 – Post Office, High Bentham (Bentham Christmas Lights Appeal)
27th January 2012 – Barclays Bank, Ingleton (Childline)