A man will face Geelong Magistrates' Court after being charged over the alleged theft of a breast cancer charity collection tin from a Leopold sports club.
The incident occurred at Leopold Sports Club on Saturday, March 23, when police allege a man entered the premises and removed a donation tin collecting money for breast cancer research and support.
Police investigation leads to arrest
Geelong Crime Investigation Unit detectives conducted an investigation into the incident and subsequently arrested a 47-year-old Leopold man on Tuesday.
The accused has been charged with theft and is scheduled to appear before Geelong Magistrates' Court on July 22.
While police successfully located and recovered the actual collection tin, the money that had been collected for the breast cancer charity remains missing and has not been recovered at this stage.
Community outrage over charity theft
The theft has sparked anger within the local Geelong community, particularly given the nature of the charity targeted.
Breast cancer charities rely heavily on public donations through collection tins placed in businesses and community venues like sports clubs.
Leopold Sports Club serves as an important community hub in the northern Geelong suburb, making such a theft particularly distressing for regular patrons and staff.
Local residents have expressed their disappointment that someone would steal from a charity dedicated to helping those affected by breast cancer, a disease that touches many Australian families.
Ongoing impact on charity fundraising
This incident highlights the vulnerability of charity collection points in public venues and the impact such thefts have on important community fundraising efforts.
Breast cancer organizations depend on these small donations to fund research, support patients, and provide services to those undergoing treatment.
Police have reminded businesses and community organizations to ensure collection tins are securely positioned and regularly emptied to minimize potential losses from such incidents.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine what happened to the missing donation money.
