A THIEF who stole a poppy collection tin from the counter of a Weymouth bank has been branded ‘disgusting’.

The theft from HSBC, coming days ahead of Remembrance Sunday, is the sixth theft of a Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal collection in Dorset this year.

The tin was ripped from its chains at the St Mary Street bank yesterday between 9.30am and 11.30am. Poppy Appeal volunteers have reacted angrily to the news that the money – for current and ex-servicemen and women and their families – was snatched.

Ian Jarvis, Dorset fundraiser for the Royal British Legion, said the crime was ‘disgusting’.

He added: “Last year we had one theft of a collection box in Dorset and this year we are up to six thefts already and we have not even got to Remembrance Day yet.

“As an ex-service soldier I’m angry.”

He said the thieves were stealing from the Poppy Appeal’s beneficiaries.

“At this time of year when remembrance is at the fore, to have people going out and actively stealing collection tins – it’s not acceptable,” he said.

Mr Jarvis said it would be good to find the people responsible and introduce them to some of the Poppy Appeal’s beneficiaries, so they could see what people had been through.

Weymouth and Portland mayor Ray Banham said it was a ‘low’ act.

He said: “Words escape me. What can you say about something as low as this?”

He said that there were a lot of people in ‘desperate conditions’ at the moment.

“But to go that low to take a charity tin in remembrance of those who gave up their lives for this country – it’s sad and despicable,” he added.

Poppy Butcher, 84, of Weymouth, organises veterans’ meet-ups and coordinates the military vehicles for the parades in Weymouth.

She said: “I’m just flabbergasted- it’s terrible. I just can’t understand people doing such things.

“For someone to go in and take it, it’s terrible.”

Inspector Neil Wood, of Weymouth Police Station, said: “We are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. There would have been plenty of people around at that time.

“At the moment we have no description of the thief but the bank are checking their CCTV coverage.”

No-one from HSBC was available for comment.

Anyone who can help should contact Dorset Police on 101.