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Thief Lifted Money Jars Meant for Terror Victims

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From Times Staff Reports

Police said they are looking for a man who stole several collection jars for victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Since Oct. 1, the thief has stolen jars from at least four restaurants in Mission Viejo and Laguna Hills, and he may be responsible for several more incidents, sheriff’s spokesman Jim Amormino said, adding that some of the jars held as much as $300.

“People are very sympathetic to the tragedy. They were being generous, and this parasite goes around ripping it off. It’s like ripping off a church or a kids’ charity.”

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Amormino described the suspect as white, in his 20s, between 5-foot-11 and 6-foot-3, with tattoos on both arms. Witnesses said the man walked into the restaurants, looked around, grabbed the jars and fled in a light blue 1980s Hyundai.

The license plate number witnesses gave police was for tags reported stolen from another vehicle, Amormino said.

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