Thief swipes $2,500 from Ann Arbor Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign
The Salvation Army counts on donations from its Red Kettle drive to provide assistance to the needy.
"Our kettle goal this year was $300,000," said Debra Molitor, development director for the Ann Arbor Salvation Army Corps. "This was a huge hit for us."
Ann Arbor police are investigating the break-in at 100 Arbana Drive, the nondescript red brick building that serves as headquarters for the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti Salvation Army corps. Salvation Army workers arrived to find a smashed-in door Monday morning.
Donations are counted and kept in a safe before being picked up daily at the Arbana Drive location. But some bags of counted change were on the floor in a locked office; a thief or thieves broke through three doors to reach the donations before carting the heavy bags off on a dolly that was also stolen.
It isn't the first theft of Salvation Army donations this holiday season. In late November, someone made off with a donation bucket in front of Nickels Arcade. The Red Kettle drive, which stations dozens of bell ringers and familiar red buckets in locations throughout the community in November and December, is the Salvation Army's largest fundraiser of the year.
"We're not Robin Hood, but we sure try to help people, and we're not a bank. It was sad," Molitor said.
'Our motto is 'Doing the most good,' and this really had a negative impact on trying to do that," she continued.
There is video footage of the break-in, Molitor said, which Ann Arbor Police detectives are reviewing.
The Salvation Army of Washtenaw County has a number of local charitable pursuits. The 100 Arbana building is a multi-purpose hub for helping the poor and disadvantaged, with a food pantry in the basement and social services help available. The Salvation Army also supports the Veterans Haven of Hope and Staples Family Center homeless shelter. It has multiple partners with other charitable organizations in the area to deliver its mission.
The Salvation Army made headlines this year by taking donations via credit card machines in addition to its traditional red kettles. Donations are also accepted online.
Juliana Keeping covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter
Comments
dfossil
Thu, Dec 31, 2009 : 5:37 p.m.
Understand that all dollars put into security are dollars unavailable to needy people. Every charity has to balance security versus purpose of funds. The Delonis center could buy security cameras and employ guards but uses the money to help the homeless. The Salvation Army could expend money needed for other things to beef up security but guess what? See how many BANK security pictures there are for robbers? Do they deter anyone robbing banks? They do not. It is a balance that all have to weigh and take a risk. What concerned me was this was not reported in the Ann Arbor. com site until a day and a half AFTER the weekend which means no one was on the lookout for someone passing coin at the coin machines due to such late reporting, THAT is not serving the community!
djm12652
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 : 1:06 p.m.
I agree with goldbear with one exception, the contributions made should never be left out overnight, let alone a long weekend. With proper protocols [such as daily deposits] in place, this should never happen. Unfortunately or fortunately, the people of the SA are not cyncial like me. Their core beliefs are to help all of God's children, and that no soul is unworthy of help. Many people, perhaps even the thieves that committed this lowlife scumbag act, have benefitted from the good people of the SA.
breadman
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 : 11:42 a.m.
I agree with Goldenbear! Salvation Army does Community hours for the courts. So once a criminal, always a criminal! and they do return. That change and/or paper money should been locked down for the LONG weekend. SORRY FOR THE LUCK!!!! Poor Management!!!!!
goldenbear
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 : 10:17 a.m.
Unfortunetly this is not the first theft The Salvation Army has sufferd, The building has cameras and doesn't it have an alarm system????. Why wasn't everything put up properly for the weekend???. And if you have criminals working in a building to finish off community service, Sure you have time to case a building and figure out how things work. The Salvation Army does do good but thanks to GREEDY THEIFS this is why I personaly pass up red kettles. You cannot trust who is honest and who isn't.
mama247
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 : 9:49 a.m.
Very sad.....
bone roller
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 : 6:32 a.m.
i would hope that the money i put in that red kettel was going to help some needy family have a christmas.
bone roller
Wed, Dec 30, 2009 : 6:27 a.m.
this money should have been spent at christmas.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Dec 29, 2009 : 11:45 p.m.
Why is that a commentary on society? How about placing the blame on the criminals where it belongs? What did you expect honor among thieves?
girlhunter
Tue, Dec 29, 2009 : 6:54 p.m.
It really says something about the society that we live in.. when thives steal from the one orginzation that would accually help them if they were in need... really sad state of affiars....
chadz
Tue, Dec 29, 2009 : 4:55 p.m.
I'm w/Edward on this one.
zollar
Tue, Dec 29, 2009 : 4:14 p.m.
I don't understand why as part of their security system they didn't have a LOUD alarm and flashing lights that can be seen from Huron and Arbana Streets. I mean this is located in a residential neighborhood and it certainly would have detered a thief to continued with gaining access.
Wolverine3660
Tue, Dec 29, 2009 : 1:47 p.m.
Regarding the very first comment abut the SA Pastor who was killed in Christmas Eve. I think that incident ocurred in Arkansas, not Akron. Unless, if 2 SA Pastors were killed in attempted robberies. I sure hope not.
48104
Tue, Dec 29, 2009 : 1:02 p.m.
It's going to be difficult to either spend $2500 in change or to trade it in for bills without calling attention to oneself.
Macabre Sunset
Tue, Dec 29, 2009 : 12:51 p.m.
For whatever reason, I've been hearing about Salvation Army thefts a lot the last couple of years. It sounds like criminals are focusing on the red kettles. Maybe it would be wise for the SA to pool where the money is stored this time of year and hire overnight security. This is starting to add up, and it might affect donations in future years. Now, if only we could get the criminals to steal those horrid bells instead of the money. I can never stand to be near one of those kettles long enough to find a couple of quarters.
djm12652
Tue, Dec 29, 2009 : 12:49 p.m.
In my opinion, these Piles Of Scat don't deserve to ever see another holiday season as free people
Top Cat
Tue, Dec 29, 2009 : 12:40 p.m.
This is part of the reason I write one large check every year for the Salvation Army and do not put cash in the kettles.
Steve Pepple
Tue, Dec 29, 2009 : 12:32 p.m.
A couple of comments have been removed because they speculated on who committed the crime. Please do not make unsubstantiated allegations in your posts.
Ricebrnr
Tue, Dec 29, 2009 : 12:20 p.m.
Could be worse, an Akron Salvation Army person was shot to death in front of his kids for his kettle over the Xmas Holiday. But it's hard to disagree with that sentiment other than those punks will then be on the dole for the rest of their worthless lives.