Hunt for Red Nose charity box thief

A 'despicable' thief who stole a charity collection box from a Wolverhampton sandwich shop was being hunted by police today.

The thief struck at the Subway branch in Stafford Road, Oxley, Wolverhampton around 3.30pm on Tuesday and is thought to have been captured on CCTV.

Police hunting for the heartless crook who stole the Comic Relief Day collection box with about £35 cash inside from the shop counter have studied the security camera film for clues to his identity.

Assistant Richard Gethin, aged 19, explained: "I was sitting at the back of the shop after coming in a hour early when two suspects came in. Soon afterwards I went to put some money in the box and discovered that it was missing.

"Then we checked the CCTV and all was revealed. The kind of person who steals a charity collection box is pretty scummy. They must have brought a knife or scissors because it was tied to the counter," he said.

Mr Narinder Basrai, aged 39, who holds the franchise for the shop said: "There was at least £35 in it. The loss is very upsetting for both staff and customers who were kind enough to make donations. I knew that there were low life people but I had no idea they would stoop this low," he said.

Miss Hayley Paterson from Subway said: "The store had been raising funds for Red Nose Day by offering customers that made a donation a free special-edition Red Nose Day cookie with their sub.

Sergeant Ian Watts from West Midland Police confirmed that they were investigating the theft of the charity collection box on Tuesday 17 March around 3.34pm and added: "This was a despicable theft as the money was being collected to help the Red Nose fundraising."

Anyone with information should contact officers at Bilston Steet police station on 0845 113 5000.