Shameless thieves have defiled Armistice Day by snatching Poppy Appeal collection tins.

A Royal British Legion box was stolen from Seeney’s Pet Supplies in Stratton Way, Abingdon, between 1pm and 2pm yesterday, less than three hours after staff marked the two-minute silence.

Manager Megan Phillip said: “It is sickening. We cannot believe someone could do this on today of all days. It is unthinkable.

“We had about 15 to 20 customers in the shop. I went off to serve a customer, and then I realised it had gone.”

Abingdon’s Poppy Appeal coordinator Mary Clogl said: “It has shaken the shop workers, and it has shaken me as well. How could anyone be so low to do it?”

Last year the shop collected £51.91 for the charity.

And on the eve of Armistice Day, thieves grabbed another Poppy Appeal collection tin from Kennington Post Office.

County councillor Arash Fatemian, whose family runs the store, said he was left “seething” by the crime.

He said: “My aunt, who is the sub post mistress, was very distraught.

“It is really, really despicable.”

Police have made no arrests on two thefts of Poppy Appeal tins, at Tesco Express, Cholsey, on Monday, October 31, or at Collinwood Road United Reform Church, Risinghurst, on Tuesday, November 1.

Police spokesman Alice Adderley said: “We are investigating. We always take matters like this extremely seriously especially on a day like today.”