Family raising money for war heroes with over 200k Christmas lights left heartbroken after depraved thief steals money box

A father of three who decorated his home with more than 200,000 Christmas lights for charity has had his donation box stolen from outside his South Gloucestershire property.

Rich Iles, from Winterbourne Down near Bristol, had been collecting funds for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans when the theft occurred.

The plumber, who has been creating festive displays for seven years, had installed the elaborate light show at the start of December with support from local businesses.

“We love to see people enjoying themselves and smiling,” Iles told LBC, explaining his motivation for the annual tradition.

TO DONATE TO TAXI CHARITY FOR MILITARY VETERANS CLICK HERE

He chose to support the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans due to their “brilliant work” and the significance of this year’s timing.

“This is the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the work the charity do is brilliant, so it felt like the perfect time to do it,” Iles said.

The display, which cost thousands of pounds to create, has been drawing visitors from across the local area since early December.

The charity, established in Fulham in 1948, supports veterans and their families with outings to concerts and museums, alongside international trips to Holland, Belgium and France.

The theft occurred on Sunday evening when Iles visited relatives with his wife Gabriella and their children Rafferty, five, Clarice, 12, and Olivia, 16.

Initially, Iles thought someone might have hidden the donations bucket as a prank.

“I initially thought someone had hidden the box as a joke or a windup,” he told LBC.

However, the family soon discovered the donation box had been stolen from outside their home in the South Gloucestershire village.

The incident left Iles’ children “really upset by it all,” he revealed to LBC.

Despite the theft, the community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the response from friends, family, social media and businesses,” Iles said.

The Taxi Charity for Military Veterans relies heavily on donations and the London taxi drivers who volunteer their time.

Those wishing to support the cause can donate through Rich Iles’ JustGiving page, which has been set up specifically for the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans.