UPDATE:

Victoria police say a suspect known to police has been arrested. That person will make a court appearance on Nov. 9.

ORIGINAL:

A poppy donation box was stolen early Thursday morning by a weapon-wielding thief from a business near the corner of Blanshard Street and Hillside Avenue.

Officers were called to a business in the 2600-block of Blanshard Street at 3:20 a.m. after a man was observed cutting a security cord and stealing a poppy donation box.

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After being confronted by another customer, the suspect produced a weapon and threatened to harm the bystander, before fleeing the business with the poppy box.

Victoria police are asking for the publicB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s assistance in finding the suspect, described as a five-foot-eight-inches tall Caucasian man in his 20s with a medium build. He was wearing either a dark baseball cap or hood, baggy cargo pants with pockets on the side and was carrying a black backpack.

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Officers are continuing their investigation and hope that anybody with information will call us at 250-995-7654. To report what you know anonymously, please call Greater Victoria Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.