‘Some Cold-Blooded Stuff’: Someone Steals Salvation Army Red Kettles In Placerville

PLACERVILLE (CBS13) — If you called it a cold-hearted transgression and you wouldn’t beryllium the lone one. The Salvation Army is present informing radical earlier they marque a donation aft idiosyncratic stole their kettles successful El Dorado County. They’re disquieted the thief is present scamming radical to cod donations for themselves.

Dan Ross has volunteered with the Salvation Army for 7 years. He’s arrogant to ringing the doorbell and privation everyone a Merry Christmas arsenic helium stands adjacent to that signature Salvation Army Red Kettle extracurricular Walmart. But Friday greeting nary doorbell could beryllium heard aft idiosyncratic stole the kettles, the stands, and adjacent the bells and aprons astatine Walmart disconnected Missouri Flat Road successful Placerville. Volunteers had stored the instrumentality down a antagonistic and successful a hallway until they returned.

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“I can’t representation the mindset of idiosyncratic that’s doing that,” said Ross.

“That’s immoderate cold-blooded worldly man. I couldn’t look myself successful the reflector if I did specified a thing,” said James Strauser.

“I deliberation that’s messed up. Not a batch of radical tin spend worldly during the vacation play and it’s sad,” said Isabel Aldaz.

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They estimation the thefts magnitude to 10% of their vacation goal.  The instrumentality adds up to $500 and volunteers cod up to $1,000 a time astatine the location, but they weren’t capable to collect.

Regular donor Julie Eitel was heartbroken to hear.

“That’s beauteous sad. That’s a truly bittersweet commentary.  That someone’s that desperate,” said Eitel.

“If it’s due to the fact that you request the assistance yourself, springiness america a call. We’ve got radical who tin help.  So, crook astir and bash the close thing,” said Ross.

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The Salvation Army says they’re lone acceptable up astatine 3 locations successful El Dorado County: Walmart disconnected Missouri Flat Road successful Placerville, Raleys connected Placerville Drive successful Placerville, and Bel Air connected Palmer Drive successful Cameron Park. They’re urging anyone who sees idiosyncratic collecting donations with a reddish kettle successful immoderate different determination oregon different than connected Fridays and Saturdays to study it to the police. This comes arsenic they’re already down connected donations during the pandemic and lone person capable reddish kettle volunteers to assistance connected Fridays and Saturdays.

Marlee Ginter