Saanich police were the victims of a robbery last week.
Surveillance footage from inside the lobby of the police station, at 730 Vernon Ave., shows a woman using an oversized purse to scoop up a Cops for Cancer money collection box, police say.
"There was maybe $30 to $40 in it," said Sgt. Dean Jantzen. "It's more about a principle than the amount."
Cops for Cancer is an annual two-week bike ride held on Vancouver Island where law enforcement officers raise funds to help cancer research and provide care for children suffering from the illness.
The box was taken from the lobby around 10 a.m. last Thursday (June 16). Officers are familiar with the woman on surveillance and are currently looking for her.
"We find it disturbing that someone could come to our front counter and do this kind of thing," Jantzen said. "Especially because it's a fundraiser for children with cancer."
Ssecurity won't be boosted in the lobby, because the police department wants it to be an "inviting" place to engage the citizens of the community, Jantzen said, explaining that would be difficult to achieve behind a glass partition.
kslavin@saanichnews.com
Police property found
A Saanich police mountain bike, stolen in 2006, was recovered June 10 during the execution of a firearms warrant at a home near Tillicum Mall.