A Salvation Army Red Kettle like this one was stolen outside the Kroger store near The Summit.LOUISVILLE,
KY (WAVE) – A real-life "Grinch" stole Christmas from some of the neediest
people in Kentuckiana on Wednesday, making off with a Salvation Army Red
Kettle, according to a news release from the charity organization.
Lt.
Boris Davis with the Salvation Army said the incident happened around 6 p.m.
Wednesday right under the nose of a bell ringer outside the Kroger store at
9440 Brownsboro Road near The Summit.
Davis
said the Kroger manager and a customer chased the thief for a short distance,
but the person got away in a car. They were able to write down the license
plate number.
"We're
thankful our bell ringer was not hurt in the incident, but it's actually not
that unusual for this to happen," Davis said. "It happens every year at least somewhere,
and it's something we alert our bell ringers to when they go through training."
Davis
said volunteers and part-timers are told to stand in front of the kettles for
visibility, be aware of their surroundings at all times and never give chase if
someone steals from them.
Davis
said the perpetrators in these types of cases often are the very people the
Salvation Army aims to help.
"It's
a temporary setback," said Davis, "but we know the generosity of the community
will help carry us through as they do every year."
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