The Met Police are appealing for help identifying a man sought in connection with the theft an aid box being collected for Ukraine.
The collection box was taken from the Sawmill café in West Ham Lane in Stratford just after midday on Thursday.
It is believed to have contained around £100 set to be donated to victims of the Russian invasion.
The male suspect ran away from the location but was pursued by a member of staff, police said. He was then driven away in a car.
Police have released an image of a man seen by witnesses to place an object in a car, who was photographed as he ran around to the other side of the car.
Enquiries are ongoing in respect of the vehicle, police said.
If you know who he is please call 101 and quote reference 4698/05mar.