Maumee police search for man who robbed Salvation Army bellringer

11/30/2009
BLADE STAFF

Maumee Police are searching for a robber who stole the money — red kettle and all — from a Salvation Army volunteer outside the Andersons Saturday night.

A bellringer told police she was approached about 6:25 p.m. by a scruffy-looking man who grabbed the chain of the kettle, struggled with her, then pushed her and pulled the kettle away from her.

Maumee Police Sgt. David Tullis said the robber placed the kettle and tripod in the back of a pickup truck after telling her he couldn't stand her “or her bell ringing. I hate Christmas.”

About 8:30 p.m., Toledo police recovered the pickup truck, which had been reported stolen in Maumee Friday night, near the corner of Door Street and Reynolds Road, Seregant Tullis said. The kettle and tripod were later found in South Toledo.

The robber is described as a white male, 5-foot-2 to 5-foot-4, 200 to 240 pounds, with a scruffy beard and moustache. He was wearing dirty blue jeans, a grey hooded sweatshirt, a green shirt, and green hat.

Sergeant Tullis said it's unknown how much money was in the kettle, although the bellringer felt there was quite a bit.

“This is pretty unusual,” he said. “At this time of year we have merchandise theft all the time. It's just very common where people go in stores and rip off the store, but you very rarely see where someone rips off charitable donations like this.”