A callous thief has stolen a large amount of money collected for an autistic child during his father’s funeral.
The man was seen loitering in the foyer of a church at Avondale Heights in Melbourne’s northwest on January 12 before allegedly stealing the donations.
Family, friends and colleagues of the deceased had raised money for the four-year-old autistic boy, asking for donations in lieu of flowers.
A callous thief has stolen a large amount of money collected for an autistic child during his father’s funeral (pictured is a man police believe can assist with their enquiries)
A man was seen loitering in the foyer of a church at Avondale Heights in Melbourne’s northwest on January 12 before allegedly stealing the donations (pictured is a man police believe can assist with their enquiries)
The uninvited stranger then allegedly made off with the money, which was in donation envelopes.
Investigators believe the man who stole money may be stalking funerals in the area, and allege he stole a cash collection box from a Bundoora church on November 15.
Police allege the man stole the donations box from the sign-in table at a McLeans Road church at 3.45pm, after entering the church with the funeral procession.
Family, friends and colleagues of the deceased had raised money for the four-year-old autistic boy, asking for donations in lieu of flowers (pictured is a man police believe can assist with their enquiries)
First Constable Belinda Petrovska said the thief may be targeting funerals that have requested donations after searching memorial notices, The Herald Sun reported.
‘There have been reports of a man fitting this description attending other funerals doing the same thing,’ she said,
‘It’s disgusting this man is targeting grieving people at their most vulnerable.’
Victoria Police have released images and CCTV footage of a man they believe can assist with their enquiries.
Police allege the man is Caucasian, aged in his 50s, and is about 175cm tall with receding grey hair and tattoos around his upper left arm.
At the time of the alleged Avondale Heights theft he was wearing a dark-coloured polo shirt, blue jeans and black sneakers with white accents.
The uninvited stranger then allegedly made off with the money, which was in donation envelopes (pictured is a man police believe can assist with their enquiries)