CAUGHT on camera – these are the moments when a thief is seen shamelessly stealing a charity collection tin.

The man is caught by a security camera detaching a nylon cord at the Wayne Howard trust shop in Southampton, set up by the family of the motorcycle crash victim.

The man had brazenly tried to steal the tin when in the company of a woman. He grabbed the box only to discover it was tied down by a piece of nylon cord. Undeterred, he returned the next day, this time in the company of a man who distracted the attention of Wayne’s mother, Isobel, by trying on shirts.

He then brazenly used a lighter to cut through the cord and snatch the box which usually holds about £60. He then stuffed the box inside his jacket.

The two men left the shop in Church Street, Shirley, independently.

Discovering the theft, Mrs Howard ran outside but the men had disappeared.

Mr Howard’s sister, Theresa, could not disguise her anger. “It’s absolutely disgusting what he has done. I can’t use the words I would like to use to say what I think of him.

“It’s appalling. We have a loyal customer base here and they will be just as disgusted.”

Father of three Wayne Howard, a former Manx GP racer and a martial arts expert, sustained severe brain damage and lost his right leg in a near fatal accident.

Daily Echo readers raised more than £30,000 to fund a vital trip to the renowned Schmider Clinic where he received intensive therapy and a prosthetic leg.

Wayne’s partner, Tracy, and his mother set up the Wayne Howard Trust to raise money for other victims of brain injury. The charity runs the shop in Shirley and its ultimate aim is to raise enough money to build a multi million pound clinic similar to the one Wayne attended.

Hampshire police said they were looking into the theft and said they were also viewing the CCTV. Officers appealed for anyone who could help with the inquiry to contact them. Do you know who the thief is? Contact Hampshire police by phoning 101.