On the very first night of December, someone broke into the Salvation Army offices in the 2300 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and stole at least $10,000 that was collected during the charity’s annual kettle drive and was intended for needy people in the Metropolitan DC area. According to administrators at the Southeast DC Salvation Army, a thief or pair of thieves broke in through a third floor balcony. They believe the persons responsible knew exactly what they were looking for when they broke in. The thieves systematically went from kettle to kettle taking out the paper currency.
The Salvation Army reported that a security guard confronted a suspect who had a knife, but no one was injured in the event. Officials are hopeful that the money will be returned, as the funds were supposed to be donated to help local families who are struggling in southeast Washington.
Neighbors like Stephanie Guion suggest that while this might have been an act of desperation, there is never a justification for taking money from an organization like the Salvation Army. As she puts it, “No one should ever steal from an organization that helps people in need.”
