Police appeal for help after poppy tin theft in Ash near Guildford

Police have released fresh CCTV footage of a man and woman who the police want to speak to in connection with the theft of a Royal British Legion poppy tin in Ash.

The crime took place on the 9th November at 1:45pm as a man and woman entered a convinience store on Guildford Road. They walked around the store for around four minutes as the woman several items of shopping inside her jacket.

Both of them approached the till and the man distracted the shop assistant by asking a question. The woman then proceeded cut the metal chain that secured the poppy tin to the counter and placed it in her bag whilst the shop assistant was away dealing with the enquiry that the man had made. They then left the store and made their way to Ash rail station.

The woman, described as being in her 20s, wore a long black skirt and a black jacket with a scarf over her hair whilst the man, described as round 18-years-old, wore a white top and baggy black trousers.

Detective Constable Simon Paterson, of Guildford CID, said: "It is a despicable crime to steal from a charitable cause and I am asking anyone who recognises these two individuals or who has information about the theft to contact police."