The Summerland Legion.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

After Summerland’s legion was broken into and donations were stolen after its Remembrance Day ceremony, the community is rallying to help.

Overnight on Nov. 11-12 at the Summerland Legion, donations intended for veterans were stolen, its surveillance system was tampered with, an ATM was broken into and its side door was broken beyond repair, according to a post on the legion’s Facebook page.

READ MORE: 'Grinch' robbed South Okanagan legion of Remembrance Day donations

“We are so pleased with everyone’s kind responses to news of our break-in,” according to a new Facebook post.

“Our veterans need continued support.” The donations collected each year are used for bursaries to high school students, donations to the food bank, the cadets and other children's organizations.

This afternoon, Nov. 13, starting at 3:30 p.m., a local chef is providing soup and a bun by donation in support at the legion. The legion is also asking for donations sent as cheques to be mailed to: Summerland Legion Branch 22, PO BOX 370, Summerland, V0H 0Z0.

Vice president Patrick Macguire called the culprit the "Grinch of Remembrance Day."

“To steal from the legion on Remembrance Day – Remembrance Day donations are for our veterans, and they come in and steal that – that’s the lowest anybody could get,” he said, in a previous interview with iNFOnews.

RCMP Const. Patty Evans was at the Summerland Legion around lunchtime for Remembrance Day.

“The place was full – every seat was taken,” Evans said, in a previous interview with iNFOnews. “People coming and going continuously.”

Police received a call from legion staff about the incident at 9:45 a.m., Nov. 12, she said.

Evans suspects the culprit or culprits became familiar with the inside of the building before the robbery.

“The way the entry was gained and how they acted inside the building leads me to believe the person had some knowledge of where they were going. The building was secured, there was an alarm and video system but unfortunately they were able to defeat all that.”

Legion hours are from 2 to 7 p.m. today, from Tuesday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 1 to 9 p.m.

The RCMP is asking any neighbouring properties with surveillance systems to see if anything suspicious was recorded during the incident. Any tips from the public are also welcome. The Summerland detachment can be called at 250-494-7416.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Carli Berry or call 250-864-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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