Donation jar for dead baby's family stolen from Pontiac store

Video shows man on crutches stuffing donation jar down his pants

PONTIAC, Mich. – Police are on the hunt for a thief in Pontiac who stuffed a 711 donation jar down his pants while employees weren't looking.

Police said the man walked into the store on crutches as a regular, and the staff knew him. But this time, police said he was caught stealing on camera.

Video appears to show the man walking into the store Monday and stealing a lighter, Honey Bunz and the donation jar.

"It looks like he's casing the store, looking for opportunity," 711 manager Brandon Biondo said. "What he could take. Looking for the employees to be distracted."

When the man grabbed the donation jar full of money, he shoved it in his pants, police said.

The donations were supposed to go toward the funeral of a baby, Isabella Cooper, who died unexpectedly. Isabella's mother is a customer of the store.

"She's a regular customer here," Biondo said. "I had no problem helping her out."

The jars have been spotted around town, but so far, the man hasn't been spotted after the incident. He made a slow getaway before police arrived on Monday night, officials said.

The donation jar is gone, but the family's need is not. They're holding a fundraiser Saturday at 55 S. Ardmore in Pontiac, where people can gather for a cookout and bottle drive.


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