A store owner has spoken of his "disbelief" after a man was caught on camera stealing a charity box from the counter, and then asking for a donation into his own 'charity' bucket.

In CCTV footage a man can be seen walking into the Anisha’s Collection fashion store in Victoria Street, Blackburn.

He is carrying what appears to be a bucket of his own, which is purported to be for charity.

While the shopkeeper deals with a customer the man can be seen attempting to lift the shop’s charity box from the counter. 

He later succeeds and conceals the charity box in his coat.

As the shopkeeper returns to the counter, he claims to be collecting for charity himself and asks for a donation.

The store owner then kindly reaches into the till and hands over some money to the man.

The incident took place at around 7.15pm on Sunday, January 28.

A spokesperson for the shop said he was in "disbelief" at the manner of the theft.

He said: “I was away on business and on returning was wondering where the charity box had gone. So, I decided to trawl through the CCTV and spotted this.

“We were left speechless and couldn’t believe what he had just done.

“Our dad is kind enough to donate to him from the till.”

Lancashire Telegraph: The man asks for a donation and the shopkeeper kindly hands over money from the till

A number of similar incidents have taken place along Whalley Range in recent weeks, the store owner said.

He said: “We have heard another place was also targeted in this way and the description given was the same as ours.”

Anisha’s Collection is one of the longest established fashion stores in the busy shopping district and is famous for its dazzling window displays.

Shear Brow ward Councillor Suleman Khonat said: “This is very disappointing.

“People are out collecting for a whole range of causes out there.

“It makes you wonder with what he was collecting for as he had a charity tub with him.

“It is unfair on other genuine collectors. They are doing a good deed and it undermines their efforts.

“The only thing is we have not had many of these incidents. With Ramadan coming, a lot of people will be out collecting and we should ask questions and maybe ask for ID.

“To be fair to the shopkeeper, like many of them do, he gave the money out of kindness not knowing what had happened.”

Police said they were called at 11.30am on Wednesday (February 14) to a report of theft at a shop in Victoria Street, Blackburn.

It was reported a charity box had been stolen on January 28.

A police spokesperson said: "No arrests have been made. An investigation is underway and enquiries ongoing.

"Anyone with information can call 101 quoting log 0457 of February 14."