Sooke RCMP are investigating after a charity donation box was stolen from the Sooke Veterinary Clinic.
Police said the box was taken at about 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 29. A woman went to the reception desk and grabbed the box from the counter before running out of the clinic.
The see-through plastic donation box was crammed with cash, all destined for the SPCA, said veterinarian Deborah Lambert.
“I’d guess that there was $200 to $300 in there – money that would have let the SPCA do a lot of good helping some poor animals. It’s really disappointing,” she said.
When the theft took place, clinic staff pursued the woman who had taken the box but she refused to own up to the theft and clinic staff were left with no choice but to let her walk away while they contacted the RCMP.
The suspect is described as white, about 30 years old with medium build. She was wearing a black hoodie and a pink coat.
Lambert said the woman was Caucasian, about 5-foot-5 and 30 years old.
“There have been a number of these sorts of thefts in recent months, but we really haven’t seen it happen that often in Sooke,” RCMP Sgt. Clayton Wiebe said.
As far as the Sooke Veterinary Clinic goes, it’s unlikely it will lose another charity box.
“We’ve taken some steps to increase the surveillance in that area, and we’ve secured the boxes now,” Lambert said.
“The next person who tries to take a box is going to have to carry out the whole desk with it.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 250-642-5241 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
mailto:tim.collins@sookenewsmirror.com
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