Theft from soldier memorial

This news item from the BBC saddens me. I hope the culprit is caught soon.

Theft from dead soldier memorial

A thief has stolen items from a war memorial in Falkirk after they were left there in memory of a dead soldier.

A junior Rangers football top, saltire badge and poppy were taken from the cenotaph on Camelon Road, a spokeswoman for Central Scotland Police said.

The items were left by a friend of Pte Sean McDonald, who died in Afghanistan on 7 February.

The theft took place between 1230 GMT last Tuesday and 1500 GMT the following day.

Pte McDonald, 26, and Cpl John Moore, 22, were killed by a roadside bomb while on foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province.

They were both from the Royal Scots Borderers, 1st Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland.

Pte McDonald, who was born in Toronto but came to Edinburgh to go to school, left a wife Jennifer, mother Jacqueline, brother Darryle and sister Ceilidh.

Following his death, his mother said the tragedy had left a "hole in our lives and a hole in our heart".

Neil Griffiths, spokesman for the Royal British Legion Scotland, said the theft of the tribute to the fallen solider was "absolutely appalling".

He said: "People stealing from a war memorial is unheard of. Any theft is bad, but this makes your blood boil - it defies words."

He added: "Anyone hearing this news couldn't fail to be appalled.

"It goes beyond normal criminal events - it's insulting to all soldiers."

Police said they wanted to speak to anyone who had information about the theft or who saw something suspicious.