A SNEAKY thief hid charity boxes under his jacket and pulled them into his bag while waiting for his order at a fish and chip shop.

The man was queuing up for food at the Big Q Fish Bar, in Whitmore Way, Basildon, when he set his sights on the two tins, which were collecting donations for the Fisherman's Mission and the Lucy Air Ambulance For Children.

Staff noticed the boxes when they were clearing up at about 8.30pm on Thursday, April 21.

The theft had taken place 30 minutes earlier.

When staff checked CCTV footage of the front counter, they discovered a man had brazenly swiped the tins while they were distracted serving customers.

Amrik Rakkar, 43, who owns the takeaway, said: "A guy came in and as he was waiting for his chips, he was stood on the corner of the counter.

"When we checked CCTV, we could see that he put his jacket on top of the box and he walked away, stealing it.

"He then went outside and came back in. The second tin he just put in his bag while he was distracted.

"You could see that he was looking quite nervous, he kept moving his arms forwards and backwards.

"We didn't realise what was going on. We were busy with customers and we don't keep looking at what our customers are doing all the time.

"We only realised when we were cleaning up."

Mr Rakkar estimated that there was about £30 in the Lucy Air Ambulance For Children tin.

The charity provides free hospital transfers by helicopter for children.

The Fisherman's Mission tin had only been emptied days earlier.

Mr Rakkar added: "We didn't have the tins tied up as we didn't think we would need to.

"It is awful that somebody would steal from charity - it really is the lowest of the low."

The thief is described as a white man aged in his early twenties.

He was about 5ft 2ins tall, of skinny build, and had short brown hair.

Essex Police are investigating the theft.

Anyone with information can call officers on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.