Alleged poppy box thief turns himself in

A man has turned himself in to police in connection with the theft of poppy donation boxes from two eateries in west Toronto.

The thefts occurred last week at a Pizza Nova on the Queensway and at a Coffee Time on Lake Shore Boulevard West.

A 26-year-old man turned himself in at 22 Division early Monday, said Staff Sgt Doug McDonald.

The man faces two charges of theft under $5,000.

He is due to appear in court in Toronto Monday morning.

Amir Ghodratolapour, who owns the Coffee Time where a donation box was stolen from, called the act one of the lowest things a person could do. The theft was captured by a surveillance camera in the restaurant.

"Stealing the poppy box — there's what, two dollars, three dollars in it? It was so sad to see it," he said.

"If I had seen it by myself, I would have stopped him by myself, but unfortunately I turned my face and he's gone, take the poppy box and gone."