A THIEF who steals Poppy Appeal collecting tubs in a scam where he swaps full ones for empty ones has struck again.

The crook, described by police as a tall thin white man with brown hair, attempted to take a British Legion box from Greggs bakers in Bingley's 5Rise shopping centre on Wednesday.

And he also successfully snatched a box from the nearby Co-op supermarket.

Bingley Poppy Appeal organiser Collin McDonald alerted police to a series of similar thefts earlier in the week.

"He tried to do the switch trick in Greggs during the morning, but the box he was trying to swap was tied to a Children In Need collection bucket," Mr MacDonald said.

"He had distracted staff, but then the bucket fell on to the floor as he picked up the poppy box.

"The man claimed he'd not actually got any money on him and then left empty-handed.

"Staff gave exactly the same description of him as before.

"At the Co-op. the box just had its chain cut and it vanished."

The British Legion in West Yorkshire fears thousands of pounds could already have been lost to this year's appeal due to this string of thefts

Police have issued an urgent warning to shops and businesses.

A 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."

Mr MacDonald said the fact the man was still at large and stealing was very distressing.

"It makes me feel physically sick," he said.

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.