Treddyfrin police identify the suspect as 50-year-old Norman Victor Demko of the 4100 block of Howell Road in Malvern.
Police say around 8:30 a.m. on December 22, a resident in the 100 block of Brookmead Road in the Wayne section saw the despicable act.
"Spotted a white male who was operating a white Volvo who had removed a card left specifically for his local trashman," Sgt. Todd Bereda said.
Police say the car sped off a short time later, but the witness was able to get a partial license tag number.
"Our patrol officers were able to deduce that partial tag and then look into police systems and found a vehicle with a matching description, make, model and color," Bereda said.
Police say the witness later identified the owner of the vehicle, Norman Demko, as the perpetrator.
They think he may be responsible for a half dozen other thefts of cash that had been placed in holiday cards and taped by residents to their trashcans to thank their sanitation workers.
"There are so many nameless people in our society that the society wouldn't run without their persistent efforts. In this case, one of those members who normally is not seen was taken advantage of and he didn't know it initially," Bereda said.
We were unable to reach the suspect for comment, but police continue their investigation and it's possible he could be charged with other similar thefts in recent days.