FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. – The bell ringer had to go to the bathroom for just a minute or two when a guy, caught on surveillance video, hauled off the Salvation Army stand and kettle.
The stand alone weighs 35 pounds.
Farmington Hills police got the call and arrived at the Walgreens near Eight Mile Road and Grand River Avenue where they started the investigation.
Officer Brett Putnam heard the call go out on the radio.
“It makes you upset and a lot of things go through your head,” Putnam said. “Initially, I was angry and then I thought, let’s win this day, let’s make this up.”
Putnam put it out on the station email, and the next thing he knew, his colleagues in the police department were flooding him with responses and donations.
In a little over an hour, the Farmington Hills Police Department pulled together more than $500 to give to the Salvation Army. It was a whole lot more than was estimated to be in the kettle.
Police are still looking for the thief.