More than $13,000 has been raised by supporters of The Old Sod Restaurant to help restore fate in humanity  after the popular bar was robbed of $7,000 earned from the sales of Christmas trees.

The local Bloor St. W. and Royal York Rd., pub was robbed on December 14 in what appears to be a ‘cash and grab’ incident that was captured by the bar’s security cameras.

The video shows a man, wearing a hoodie and mask, smashing the glass door with what appears to be a large rock. He then walks inside the bar and is seen calmly walking out with what looks like a drawer of the register that contains cash.

The pub had been hit hard, along with others in the area, by the COVID-19 lockdowns, and was earning extra income to stay afloat from tree sales, which has been brisk as residents made purchases to support their local pub.

“It was a smash and grab,” restaurant owner Ty Owens told reporters. “They broke our front windows, smashed our point-of-sale machines and stole one cash till and an empty cash till. That was our Christmas campaign cash. “

He said the brazen thief stole about $7,000.

Owens heard glass in the front door shattering and rushed downstairs around 1:15 a.m., only to have missed the thief by seconds.

“I had just missed them,” he said. “The Christmas trees are locked up in front of the door that leads into my residence, so if it wasn’t for those trees, I would have bumped directly into the criminal.”

He believes the crook bolted east on Bloor St. W., and may have had a getaway driver.

Owens is wondering if his pub was targeted because a Christmas tree campaign that was highly publicized on social media and by people in the community.

The bar has released security footage of the incident in hopes that someone from the public can identify the burglar.

Officers at nearby 22 Division said a report has been filed and the theft is being investigated.

Supporters of the pub’s Go Fund Me campaign have donated more than the $12,000, which the bar was expecting to raise to help with their loss.

“As a member of Old Fort York vintage motorcycle club we have spent many monthly social get togethers at The Sod and hope to spend many more,” wrote Robert Stevenson on a Go Fund Me post as he made a donation.

Carol and Moe Wicklander said the Old Sod has been trying to stay open in recent times.

‘Sorry to hear about your break-in,” they wrote. “You have been working so hard to keep afloat, hope this will help.”

Donations are still being accepted on Go Fund Me.