A HEARTLESS thief posing as a devastated bereaved son is suspected of stealing charity donations from a funeral parlour.
A collection box for premature babies' charity Bliss has been reported stolen from Rowland Brothers Funeral Directors in Purley's High Street – and staff suspect a hoodie-wearing stranger.
Funeral arranger Sophie Clarke said: "We believe it happened on Monday. We had a young man come into the office and he seemed to be on the phone to someone when he came in, checking that he had got the right funeral directors.
"He came in and spoke to my colleague and said that his dad had died.
"He said he was waiting for his mum to come in and arrange things and did not want to talk about it and wanted to be left alone.
"He was left alone in the reception area. He did not say goodbye – but we heard the bell go.
"And we noticed this morning that the money section of the charity box has been taken."
Other people who had come into the shop this week had been known to staff, she added.
Ms Clark thinks the box, which sold sweets in return for donations, contained about £20 to £30 donated by visitors during the previous two weeks.
She described the suspect as a young man, about 5ft 8in tall, and with dark hair. He was wearing light blue jeans and a dark-coloured hoodie, with the hood down.
She said: "There was nothing suspicious.
"We were a bit worried when he disappeared but we deal with grieving families every day and everyone reacts completely differently.
"From our view it could have been just that he was not handling the death of his dad very well.
"My colleagues said that he was a very good actor and should have been on the stage."
The incident, which happened while three staff were in the building, has been reported to police. There is no CCTV in the funeral parlour.
Ms Clarke added: "I have notified the other funeral directors in the area and all our other branches. He was such a good actor.
"The money was for a premature babies charity. I hope he had a genuine use for it."
Ms Clarke and a colleague have agreed to club together and donate to the charity the amount of money thought to have been in the box.
A Police spokesman confirmed the force had been alerted to the incident and asked anyone with information to call 101.
