An eight-year-old girl went on a fundraising mission with her sister when she found out a Poppy Appeal collection tin was stolen from a fish and chips shop.
Milly Timmins and Izabelle Timmins, six, of Coulson, helped raise £52.51 to replace the box taken from Danny’s Fish and Chips shop on November 15.
The money was stolen from the takeaway the day before Remembrance Sunday, and police in Croydon have since released a CCTV video of a man they would like to speak to about the crime.
The girls asked family and school friends at St Annes Primary School, Banstead, to make donations and brought the money into the takeaway two days later.
Milly said: “I was very sad and upset and disappointed. At first I started the collection, I asked everybody from my school and family to raise money and they donated.”
Chip shop owner Danny Tevfik, 45, said since news broke out of the theft he has tripled his usual donation of £100 to the British Legion poppy appeal to £300.
He added £100 of his own money as he felt guilty there would be no donation this year, while upset customers also raised £150.
Mr Tevfik, who has been fundraising for the Poppy Appeal in the takeaway for 20 years, said: “I couldn’t speak, I was speechless. It brought tears to my eyes that somebody aged eight-years-old had done that for me. She came in and said ‘Danny I have got something for you.'
“They presented me with this box full of money. I was over the moon. I didn’t think I was a softy but I think I am now. “
Proud mum Jo Timmins, said Milly came up with the idea to raise money herself.
She said: “Their cousin has recently returned from fighting in Afghanistan, they have been learning why he goes to fight - they know why Remembrance Day was going on."
Police continue to appeal for information in tracing the suspect.
Anyone with information can contact police on 101 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference number 163978.
