FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. (AP) — Donations have been raised to help replace money stolen when a Salvation Army red kettle was swiped from outside a suburban Detroit pharmacy.
Members of the Farmington Hills Police Department raised $248 and an anonymous donor chipped in $300.
The donation kettle and stand were set up Friday outside a Walgreens in Farmington Hills, northwest of Detroit. They were taken about 4:45 p.m. Friday when a volunteer bell ringer manning the kettle went inside the store.
Police say the stand was found nearby, but not the kettle and its contents.
Farmington Hills officer Brett Putnam sent out an email on the theft, which led to the donations. Putnam tells WDIV-TV that he was angry then thought “let’s win this day, let’s make this up.”
The theft is under investigation.
A 29-year-old Redford Township man has been arrested on suspicion of the theft.
The Detroit News reports that Eric Heineman was arraigned Sunday on larceny and heroin possession charges.
A tip led police to Heineman who was ordered held on a $5,500 bond. He next court date is Wednesday.