Disgust over Poppy Appeal thefts from churches

Thefts of Poppy Appeal collections have left police and members of the public disgusted.

Police on the Isle of Man condemned as "despicable" the theft of a Poppy Appeal collection from a church.

The appeal box was stolen from Braddan Church between 9am last Thursday and 12pm on Saturday.

It had been placed in the church for people to leave a donation in exchange for a poppy in the run-up to Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday.

Police today appealed to members of the public to come forward with any information.

PC Bryn Griffith described the theft as "despicable and callous".

"I cannot understand why somone would commit such a terrible act," he said.

"It is obvious that the person who has done this has no respect."

A Poppy Appeal tin was also stolen from St Mary's Church in Ware, Hertfordshire, and Collinwood Road United Reformed Church in Headington, Oxford.

Thieves broke into the URC church on November 1 and stole money and the Poppy Appeal collection tin, which contained about £11.

The county vice-chairman of the Royal British Legion Jim Lewendon said he had been left "sickened" by the act.

He was quoted by the Oxford Mail as saying: "How low can you get?"