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Thieves steal Salvation Army red kettle from Matthews Harris Teeter

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Someone stole a red kettle and potentially hundreds of dollars from the Salvation Army over the weekend in Matthews.

The theft happened Saturday night at the Harris Teeter on Matthews Township Parkway. Officials said someone was probably watching the bell ringer and waited for an opportunity once the ringer stepped away.

"Apparently two young men were able to pick up the whole stand and throw it into a vehicle and were able to get away with it," Maj. Larry Broome, with the Salvation Army, said.

The thieves took the locked bucket along with the stand. It may have contained up to $200.

Police said they have a couple leads and are looking for a burgundy Kia Rhondo.

"No charge is too small or too big when it comes to stuff like that. We definitely want to get someone in custody and get that message out there: You just can't do stuff like that," Tim Aycock, with the Matthews Police Department, said.

The theft comes when donations are down for the Salvation Army by about $13,000. It hopes the public will step in and help make up the difference.

[Salvation Army Red Kettle Program]

"We really do need the public's help overall to be able to meet the needs of the community this year," Broome said.

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