A restaurant has released CCTV of the moment a man appears to make off with a Poppy Appeal collection box undetected.
The footage was caught on camera by Mangetout Grill and Steakhouse restaurant in Southend, Essex, who released the video to warn others.
Two cameras show the hooded suspect wandering into the restaurant with an over the shoulder bag before he lifts up the box once and puts it back down.
He looks around and opens his blue bag then takes the Royal British Legion tin just moments before two diners enter the foyer just on from the restaurant.
The male, who was wearing a black hooded coat with white trainers, strolls out of the restaurant undetected at about 7.45pm on Saturday night.
VIDEO: Moment man lifts Poppy Appeal collection box from restaurant