SAN ANTONIO – A Salvation Army kettle that was stolen right in front of a bell ringer on Thursday night is now back with the charity.
It happened at the Hobby Lobby on Fredericksburg off Loop 410.
"I was very scared," said Sherri Vokovich, the Salvation Army bell ringer who witnessed the theft. "I started crying."
Vokovich said she's been a bell ringer for three years and in that time, no one tried to steal her kettle.
"I didn't think anything of it. I just thought he liked my signing," said Vokovich when she saw the man. "He came over a little bit and all of a sudden, he came over, said, "Merry Christmas" and grabbed the kettle and took off running."
Balcones Heights Police were on the scene in minutes.
"There was a Hispanic male that took the kettle from the Salvation Army," said Detective Mike Russo with the Balcones Heights Police Department. "He ripped it from the chain and the victim standing next to the kettle saw what happened and called 911."
Balcones Heights Police chased the thief across I-10, going through several backyards in a nearby neighborhood.
"He did cross I-10 at Crossroad," said Russo, "and we located him in some lady's backyard, almost at Vance Jackson at Freilng Street."
Police got the thief and the kettle with the donated cash.
"It could have been potentially devastating because it's already been a down year for us, kettle-wise," said Brad Mayhar with the Salvation Army. "We've been down 51 percent in some parts of town this year already. I'm just thankful that no one got hurt, our bell ringer was safe."
The recovered cash will go to help families in need. The suspect has been identified as Mark Anthony Smith, 30. He faces charges of theft and evading arrest.