A flat-capped crook swiped two children’s charity tins in 10 minutes in a “diabolical” Sunday night crime spree.
The elderly man was caught on camera stealing the cash earmarked for sick youngsters from a takeaway and then a pub in Aberdeen.
He distracted staff and customers at Sizzler’s takeaway, near the city’s bus and train station, around 9.35pm before grabbing the charity collection from the counter and making off with it under his jacket.
Just a few minutes later, he walked into Wagley’s Bar and appeared to repeat the brazen act behind the backs of bar staff.
Police are now investigating both thefts.
Sizzler’s takeaway owner, Keith Crockett, 51, a father of four, said: “These are kid’s charity jars. There’s one for CLIC Sargent and there’s the one that was stolen which is for a specialised cancer that affects infants and newborns.
“The charity jar actually comes from a friend of mine, whose grandson suffered from it at birth. It is very personal to me.
“To take a charity jar is diabolical. But to take from a kid’s charity just seems that little bit worse.”
In the CCTV footage, the man can be seen using a tool to break the chain that secures the charity tin to the takeaway counter.
He then moves away as other customers enter the restaurant before ushering them in front of him – so he can get back to the tin.
He casually lifts it from the counter and places it under his jacket before making an exit – but not before picking up his takeaway order.
Mr Crockett said: “It’s very clear. You see him come in. He stands next to the charity jar and picks up a menu and has a look at it.
“One or two people come in, so he takes a step back and invites them to move along the counter. He then goes back to the charity jars.
“One of the girls that was working went down the stairs and the other one turned her back to go to the fryer, then he lifted the charity jar and put it inside his jacket.”
Mr Crockett said the thief was so sly that he did not notice the tin was missing until Tuesday.
At first he thought it had been picked up by his friend to be emptied and it was only when he reviewed his CCTV he found it had been stolen – from right underneath a security camera.
Around 10 minutes after the collection was stolen, what appeared to be the same man entered Wagley’s Bar in the city’s Exchange Street and stole a collection tin for Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS).
Staff at the harbour hostelry have since launched a charity appeal to try and replace the stolen money for sick kids this Christmas.
Donations can be made online at:
https://www.justgiving.com/WagleysBar/
.
A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that the incident at Wagley’s Bar and Sizzler’s are being treated as linked.
“Inquiries are ongoing.”