POPPY Appeal collecting tins full of cash are being stolen across the Bradford district by a thief masquerading as an official collector.

And the British Legion fears thousands of pounds could already have been lost to this year's appeal.

Police last night issued an urgent warning to shops and businesses about the offender who is swapping full boxes for empty ones - sometimes in open view.

The crime spree came to light when Bingley Poppy Appeal co-ordinator Collin MacDonald was alerted to a string of thefts.

"Someone with a box stolen in Bradford went into Barclays bank in Main Street, said they were collecting the full tin and swapped it for the empty one they'd brought with them, said Mr MacDonald.

"Then they went to NatWest down the road and did the same, handing over the now empty one from Barclays.

"Then they did the same at the Jubilee Outreach charity shop."

He then learned that the scam had also been carried out at the Co-op store, Bingley Road, Saltaire.

A police spokesman said: "Bradford District Police are advising businesses which have poppy box collection tins to be vigilant following a scam in which a man has stolen poppy boxes from businesses and swapped them for empty ones.

"Inquiries are ongoing by into an incident at the Co-op in Bingley Road, Saltaire, on Monday, November 2, which began after as suspect asked the cashier for a bottle of spirits.

"While she was distracted, he cut the chain to the poppy box, put it in a bag and replaced it with an empty one.

"The suspect was described as a tall white man with light brown hair, wearing a grey sweater and blue jacket.

"He was also wearing blue jeans and was carrying a green rucksack."

Superintendent Damien Miller, of Bradford District Police, said: "Police are investigating this offence and would advise businesses which have poppy collection tins to be wary of this scam and especially of anyone who appears to be trying to handle the poppy tin.

"It is also worth remembering that anyone who approaches a bank or shop counter claiming to be from the British Legion and asking to collect the box will have appropriate identification."

Mr MacDonald, who runs an official British Legion stall at the Santander Bank, Bingley, said everyone would be horrified by the scam.

"On behalf of the public, it's just totally disgusting," he said.

"There couldn't be a more heartfelt and meaning full cause than the Poppy Appeal.

"This is tarnishing memories - I had three ladies crying this week as they've told of losing loved ones.

"We are hurriedly urging everyone to check their poppy boxes which should have a sticker saying where it should be."

Debbie Westlake, the Royal British Legion’s community fundraiser for West Yorkshire, said it was a shocking crime.

"We've never experienced anything like this before.

"It could be quite a large operation and we could be lose thousands of pounds which would obviously be awful."

Baildon Poppy Appeal organiser Roger L'Amie, a former Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford, also condemned whoever was responsible.

"To steal from a charity that supports ex-servicemen - people who put their lives on the line and in some cases lost them - is despicable," he said.

"I consider people who would do such a thing to have opted out of civilised society and indeed out of the human race."

Police have asked anyone with information about the theft to call the Shipley Neighbourhood Policing Team on 101 or to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.