Thief on bike makes off with hundreds in Modesto Salvation Army red kettle donations
A suspect on a bicycle hoisted a 6 foot tall, nearly 50 pound Salvation Army red kettle and stand onto his bicycle and rode off with hundreds of dollars worth of donations over the weekend in Modesto.
The kettle was stolen from outside the Hobby Lobby on McHenry Avenue at about 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Salvation Army Maj. Harold Laubach said the Hobby Lobby is among the highest donation-generating locations of the 30 at shopping centers from Ceres to Oakdale to Ripon.
He estimates there was about $400 in the kettle when it was stolen in between shifts for the volunteer bell ringers.
Laubach said there aren’t always bell ringers to man the kettle but a padlock that secures the kettle to the cumbersome frame is usually a sufficient deterrent.
“Because (the thief) has the kettle and stand we now have to worry that he is going to try to impersonate a bell ringer in front of another store,” Laubach said.
He said all the kettles should have the padlock intact and the bell ringer should be wearing a red Salvation Army apron.
Laubach is working with Hobby Lobby staff to get surveillance photos of the suspect but so far only has a description of a person on a bicycle wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt.
To make things worse, kettle fundraising is down throughout the county because there are six fewer days this year compared to last during the bell ringings season from Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve.
Laubach estimates donations are down locally by about $40,000.
The money is used for services including the Red Shield Youth Center and to supplement the Salvation Army’s Christmas toy giveaway, which is taking place this Saturday.
Laubach said donations to support 1,100 children have been made so far but there is a need for 300 more, especially for children between the ages of 10 and 13.
People can donate toys until Friday at the Salvation Army’s locations at 625 I St. and 1649 Las Vegas St. in Modesto.
Anyone with information about the kettle thief is asked to contact Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers at 209-521-4636. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tips also can be submitted via www.stancrimetips.org.
This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 11:45 AM.
