Manitoba crime news: a 46 year old man has been arrested after about $1,000 was taken from a poppy donation box at a business on Highland Avenue in Brandon, just days before Remembrance Day.
By Maplestime Manitoba Desk | Brandon, Manitoba | November 9, 2026
Sources: CBC News Manitoba | Last updated: November 9, 2026
Key Takeaways
- About $1,000 was taken from a poppy donation box at a business on Highland Avenue in Brandon in the late morning last week.
- Brandon Police Service arrested a 46 year old man found around the area shortly after police were called.
- Police said the man was intoxicated. He was lodged until he sobered up and released on an undertaking.
- No name was released and no specific charge was named in the report.
- The Royal Canadian Legion uses poppy campaign funds to support veterans and their families.
What Happened on Highland Avenue
The theft happened at a business on Highland Avenue in Brandon in the late morning last week. The Brandon Police Service said in a news release Saturday that the theft had happened in the previous 24 hours, but it was not clear from the release whether the incident happened Friday or Saturday. About $1,000 was taken from the poppy donation box. Brandon is about 190 kilometres west of Winnipeg.
The Arrest
Police found a 46 year old man around the area shortly after they were called, and arrested him. Police said he was intoxicated. He was lodged until he sobered up and then released on an undertaking. His name was not released, and no specific charge was named in the report.
Why the Poppy Box Matters
Many businesses across Canada place donation boxes in stores during the annual poppy campaign, and the Royal Canadian Legion uses the funds collected to support veterans and their families. The Brandon theft is the second poppy box theft in Manitoba in less than a week. In the separate Selkirk case, a woman took a poppy donation box holding about $30 to $35 from a Dairy Queen on November 2, and RCMP have identified a suspect but made no arrest.
What Happens Next
The man arrested in Brandon was released on an undertaking. No court date was given in the report. With Remembrance Day on November 11, poppy boxes remain in stores across Manitoba this week, and police have not said whether extra steps are being taken to protect them. Maplestime will follow the case as Brandon police release more details.
Maplestime will provide updates from the Brandon poppy donation box arrest as announcements are made.
Have a tip about the Brandon poppy box theft? Email [email protected]
Have a correction? Email [email protected]
Should stealing from a poppy box carry a tougher penalty than an ordinary theft, or is the punishment already enough? Tell us in the comments. And share this with every Manitoban who wears a poppy for Remembrance Day.
Enjoying Maplestime? Support independent Canadian journalism — no paywall, no corporate owners.
