A bold post office thief has been caught on camera swiping a charity collection tin from a counter.

The man was in plain sight of one of Braintree Post Office’s 24 security cameras when he stole the pot, containing no more than £5, on November 20.

Since then, postmaster Jake Singh also spotted two drinks thieves on CCTV footage on December 2, who he reported to police after following them and asking them to pay up.

The popular shop in New Street suffers two or three thefts each month, normally of purses or drinks, but November’s incident is the first time a collection tin has been targeted.

Police said the charity box suspect was white, aged in his late teens to early 20s, and wore a navy blue beanie hat with a white stripe around it and a black hooded top.

One of the suspects who stole drinks on December 2 was white, in his late teens to early 20s, and had sideburns, a black cap and a black jacket. He was carrying a shoulder bag. His accomplice was around the same age and wore a brown hooded top, a blue cap and black tracksuit bottoms.

Call Braintree police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.