Poppy box theft suspect arrested following tips from public

North Vancouver RCMP say a 28-year-old North Vancouver man has been arrested in connection with the theft of two poppy donation boxes on Tuesday.

Following the theft policereleased an image of theman and say the tips startedpouring in. OnSaturday night, police say he was identified and arrested,

The first theft took place at approximately 9 p.m. PT on Nov. 4, when a man entered a drug store on Lonsdale Avenue and allegedly took a poppy box from the counter.

The same man was seen around 20 minutes later at a gas station several blocks away, paying his bill with coins. It is alleged he also took a poppy donation box from the gas station counter.

"When someone steals from our poppy boxes they are stealing from our veterans," Cpl. Richard de Jong told CBC News at the time.

The money from the poppy boxes goes to raise funds for veterans and their families.

De Jong said thefts like this one aren't unusual and happen every year.

Police are recommending charges of theft and the suspect will make his first appearance in North Vancouver provincial court Dec. 10.