Not even The Grinch Who Stole Christmas would pull something like this.
A thief stole Christmas cash from the Salvation Army kettle campaign.
The incident happened on Christmas eve shortly after 12:30 a.m. RCMP responded to a call of an alarm at the Salvation Army Thrift store on Third Avenue, Cpl. Colin Banks said.
Officers found the store's door ajar and the red Salvation Army collection kettle laying on the floor with the clear plastic cash bowl and an undetermined amount of cash inside it gone.
"It looks as though the kettle was visible through the front door. Someone walking by likely saw it, kicked the door in and grabbed it," Banks said.
No finger prints were found on the kettle. Officers will continue their investigation though on Friday.
The incident adds insult to injury to the Salvation Army, whose kettle campaign benefits the Valley's less fortunate. Donations were reported to be down this year.
Anyone with any information about this incident is asked to call the Port Alberni RCMP office at 250-723-2424 or Crimestoppers at 1 800 222 TIPS (8477).
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