Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

$13,400 from red kettles stolen at Salvation Army headquarters

Salvation Army

Salvation Army officials say $13,400 was stolen from their headquarters during the weekend.

Charles Desiderio, director of development and marketing for the organization, said the money was stolen from a back room where volunteers count money collected from hundreds of the group’s holiday-season red kettles.

“No locks were broken,” Desiderio said. “That’s kind of scary that it’s somebody that had access to the key or got hold of one. That’s frightening.”

The Salvation Army’s main offices, 2900 Palomino Lane in Las Vegas, were closed Sunday and Monday. Officials discovered the bag of money was missing Tuesday morning when they returned to work.

“It’s sad that someone would steal from the Salvation Army,” he said. “Every dollar we get goes to help somebody that needs it … it goes to helping families that need food, homeless people who need a bed.”

About $400,000 was collected in the red kettles during six weeks in Clark County.

Desiderio said this is the first time such a theft has happened during his 11 years with the organization.

Anyone who wants to donate to the Salvation Army should call 870-4430 and ask for “Charlie,” Desiderio said.

“I will tell them how to make out the check,” he said.

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