Another charity box has been stolen by a pair of thieves in Banff.
The heartless duo struck at a Chinese takeaway on Sunday night, when they pretended to order a meal before snatching a collection tin and making away.
It is not known how much money was in the collection box, used to raise money for the local lifeboat.
And the pair are thought to have struck again on Wednesday night, when a man and woman entered Kelly’s Chips in Low Street.
Owner Morag Ritchie said she was left “gutted” by the theft.
The box, which had at least £100 in it, was used to raise money for spina bifida research – a cause close to her heart.
She said: “It was just after 7pm last night. They came in when I was in the back.
“They asked the young lassies that work here if we have any menus, then said they were going to nip to the bank and be back.
“But when they left, they turned in the wrong direction. I thought that was odd, so came through and noticed the charity
box was gone. The woman had come right in and just swiped it.
“I was totally gutted. My two-year-old grandson has spina bifida and we do a lot of fundraising for them.”
Mike Rawlins, Macduff lifeboat’s community safety officer, has condemned the thieves.
“People have less money to put into charity boxes and for people to take it upon themselves to steal what is donated is massively disappointing,” he said.
A spokeswoman for the police confirmed that they were investigating the latest theft.