Couple are caught on camera stealing a Vinnies collection tin – and the charity said if they needed help he could have just asked
- A man and woman snatched a Vinnies charity collection tin from a petrol station
- They were caught stealing on CCTV footage at Rob’s Fuels in Adelaide
- St Vincent de Paul Society urged the pair to come forward and reach out for help
A couple has been caught on camera stealing a St Vincent de Paul Society charity collection tin from a petrol station.
Security cameras recorded a man and woman entering Rob’s Fuels in the Adelaide suburb of Woodville South on Sunday, and grabbing the tin before walking out.
The St Vincent de Paul Society, which aids people in need, urged the couple to return the money and reach out for help, 10NEWS reported.
A man and a woman (pictured above) were caught stealing a St Vincent de Paul Society collection bucket at Rob’s Fuels petrol station, in north Adelaide, on Sunday
The security footage showed the couple approach the counter before the man moved to block the charity tin from the CCTV camera’s view.
As the petrol station attendant looked down the woman then grabbed the tin, accepted her change, and the pair casually left the store.
Louise Miller Frost, chief executive of St Vincent de Paul Society South Australia, encouraged the ‘desperate’ couple to come forward.
‘I see some people who are in a lot of need. It’s very sad that people are that desperate that they would do that,’ she explained.
Ms Frost also said every single dollar the charity could raise was essential, as the numbers of people in need of help continues to climb.
‘We provide food hampers, we provide emergency relief, if people need a bill paid we can assist them with that, we provide homelessness shelters,’ Ms Frost said.
CCTV cameras captured the woman (pictured in Rob’s Fuels) reaching over and grabbing the charity tin before casually walking out of the store
The donation container in question was part of an initiative called ‘Tinnies For Vinnies’ where customers could donate their bottle recycling cashbacks.
Rob’s Fuels has a bottle recycling station, Leo’s Can & Bottle Recycling, onsite.
Petrol station employee Stephen Faiello said he had seen many customers donate to the collection bucket.
‘We’ve been getting quite a few donations over the months that we’ve had it here and I’ve seen notes and coins,’ he explained.
Vinnies said the charity was not interested in punishing the man and woman.
They instead wanted the couple to know they could ask for assistance and support.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Vincent de Paul Society for comment.
St Vincent de Paul Society have urged the couple to come forward and return the cash. The charity said they could provide the pair (pictured above) with assistance