St. Charles restaurant to the rescue in kettle theft

While St. Charles Police continue to investigate last week's theft of a Salvation Army kettle that contained about $400, a local restaurant company has offered to help make up for the loss.

Colonial Cafe and Ice Cream of St. Charles will match donations made Saturday to kettles throughout the Tri-Cities, Salvation Army Maj. Jon Miller said Wednesday.

According to police, a bit of trickery might've been used to convince a bell ringer to switch out a kettle filled with money for an empty one.

St. Charles Police spokesman Paul McCurtain said authorities were told a man walked up to a Salvation Army bell ringer at about 5 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Jewel-Osco store at 2073 Prairie St. and said it was time to “switch out the kettle.”

The offender, who is described as a 40-year-old white male, standing about 5 feet 9 inches tall, took the kettle from the bell ringer and replaced it with an empty one, McCurtain said.

The bell ringer became suspicious, and about an hour later called the Salvation Army Tri-City Corps' office regarding the switch. Salvation Army officials said they didn't order a kettle switch at that location.

McCurtain said the man, who claimed to be named John, wore khaki pants and a sweatshirt, and weighed between 160 and 180 pounds.

Police suspect a fired paid bell ringer may have sent a friend to get an empty kettle at the office before the switch was made.

“The loss affects our ability to help those in need,” a disappointed Miller said. “I'm mad at the person who did it.”

After learning about the theft, officials from Colonial Cafe and Ice Cream offered to match donations made Saturday.

The Tri-City Joe K. Anderson Center is named after the late chairman of Colonial Cafe and Ice Cream, who was a major supporter of the local Salvation Army.

Donations can be made at any kettle in Batavia, St. Charles and Geneva.