At the Vets owner Heather Remnant has found the culprits who stole donation boxes from her business.

The power of social media has helped a Christchurch vet track down two women who allegedly stole two donation boxes.

Security footage shows two women enter At the Vets, on Brougham St, about 2.15pm Tuesday.

The women loiter around the store for several minutes before head vet nurse Zoe Hyett leaves the reception area. The younger of the two women then grabs the charity boxes, one for SAFE and the other for Cat Help.

SUPPLIED Two women are alleged to have stolen two donation boxes from At the Vets on Brougham St, Christchurch.

Hyett said the incident was "pretty unfortunate".

"They had false chains on them to look like they were chained in but we didn't feel the need to bolt them down to our reception."

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At the Vets posted images of the two women on Facebook on Tuesday night, only a day later their names were forwarded to police.

"We've had a lot of people come back in and tell us who they are and where they live," owner Heather Remnant said.

Remnant said she was "amused" by the traction the post got online.

"You can put up an educational article about pets and it will get to about 2000 people, but you put up some scandal and it gets to like 150,000 people."

The incident follows one where a man ordered a scoop of chips before stealing a tip jar at the Dunsandel Stop Shop last month.

Security footage showed him lean over the counter and slide the tip jar off the counter and under his sweatshirt.

The shop's owner, Ben Batchelor, said there was usually about $50 in the jar, which was worth about $8.

"It's really bizarre – he's standing there chatting with some other guy, opening the door for customers and he's also watching the cook through the window.

"I just can't believe that someone's that low that they would steal a bunch of coins."

Police said they were following "positive lines of inquiry".