IN A sickening attack on an unsuspecting victim, a Salvation Army officer was stabbed and his collection tin stolen at a Tweed Heads South shopping centre this week.

About 5pm on Monday, the 53-year-old man had just finished work collecting donations for the Salvation Army and was walking to his car when he was pushed from behind and stabbed twice in the back.

His attacker, a man described as being in his 20s, Caucasian in appearance and about 170cm tall with a medium build, ran from the scene with the victim's collection tin.

He was wearing dark-coloured track pants with a light blue rain jacket.

The victim was taken to Tweed Heads Hospital where he was treated and then released.

The Salvation Army at Tweed Heads have responded in true Salvos style, with forgiveness and understanding.

Captain Deborah Robinson said the victim had been a member and volunteer of the Salvation Army at Tweed Heads for the last few years.

She said the attack was the first of its kind in more than 45 years of the Red Shield Appeal and the attacker must have acted out of desperation.

“These are desperate times and as the Salvation Army we want to help people who find themselves in these desperate situations,” Capt Robinson said. “We don't wish any ill on the person, we only ask that if people are finding times difficult that they visit our centres for help.”

Capt Robinson said the Salvation Army was ramping up its security measures as a result of the incident.

“The safety of our volunteers is paramount,” she said. “This attack was isolated and unprecedented, but we are going to be more cautious with our safety procedures.

“There will no longer be any collections after dark and we will be working with the shopping centres to ensure there is a security guard present at all times when the collected donations are being transported to the bank.”

Tweed police Inspector Jim Cain said investigations would continue.

“We sympathise with any victim, but this is a very desperate act on a soft target,” Insp Cain said. “Those donations were intended to help people so we're definitely expecting a public outcry.

“We hope anyone with information will come forward.”

The incident happened at Tweed City Shopping Centre. If you have any information that could assist police with their investigation you can contact Tweed police anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.