A charity box raid has sparked fury in Portsmouth after a woman was caught stealing a Poppy Appeal donation box from a local pub.
Charity Box Snatched at The Park Tavern
Last night, a brazen thief targeted The Park Tavern on Commercial Road. CCTV footage shows a woman cutting the string holding the charity box to the bar, slipping it under her coat, and making a quick getaway.
Landlord Andy Lilly, disgusted by the theft, revealed the culprit has been named and police have been informed. He spotted the missing box while opening the pub this morning.
Landlord’s Stand: “Nobody Should Steal From Charity”
Andy told locals, “I phoned my staff to check if anyone moved it, but no one did. The CCTV shows the theft clearly at 10:30pm.”
“Hopefully she will be prosecuted. She’s got to be stopped,” he said.
Taking responsibility, Andy has replaced the stolen funds from his own pocket. But he questions how to keep charity boxes safe without putting off generous punters.
“Chain it up? Lock it away where no one can see it? It’s a tricky balance,” he admitted.
Pub Customers Demand Justice and a ‘Walk of Shame’
Locals are outraged and want the thief publicly shamed on Remembrance Sunday during the town’s commemoration.
Dean Pollen, a regular, said, “All of Portsmouth will be down there for the commemoration and will see this woman walk across Guildhall Square. That will hurt her more than a magistrate giving her a slap on the wrist and saying ‘don’t do it again.’”
The community is rallying behind the pub, keen to see justice served for this shameful act against charity.
