AUSTINTOWN Thief takes coat, Santa hat from Salvation Army volunteer

AUSTINTOWN -- Thieves took a Salvation Army coat and Santa hat from outside of the Giant Eagle supermarket on Mahoning Avenue on Thursday.
A Salvation Army bell-ringer told police that the coat and hat were in a plastic bag that was sitting on a bench outside the store when he went on a break at 4:30 p.m. The bag also contained a personal stereo, speakers, two tapes of Christmas music, a thermos, a pair of men's gloves and two doughnuts.
Bell-ringers are required to take the donation bucket with them when they go on break. The Giant Eagle bell-ringer said the plastic bag was gone when he returned from his break at 5 p.m.
Police also received reports Thursday that two cartons of cigarettes were stolen from the Certified Oil gas station on state Route 46, oak steps were taken from a house that is under construction on Starwick Drive, and a purse was stolen from an employee at Briarfield Manor on state Route 46. Police also are investigating the attempted theft of a van from King Kar Motors, Inc., on Mahoning Avenue.
In addition, police arrested a Girard man and charged him with theft Thursday evening after a security officer watched him take two packs of cigarettes from the Giant Eagle store on Mahoning Avenue.