NEW CASTLE Con artist at Tic Toc steals Red Cross funds

The man even gave employees receipts for the money.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Area Tic Toc stores say they will continue collecting money for the American Red Cross relief fund even after being conned out of some of the donations.
Someone claiming to be from the American Red Cross walked into three Tic Toc Food Stores in Lawrence County on Sunday and emptied donation canisters, Tony DiCaprio, executive director of American Red Cross, Lawrence County Chapter, said this morning.
Money for victims: Tic Toc Food stores are running a two-week campaign to raise money for the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Diane Moore, Tic Toc office manager, said the company is donating 5 cents to the Red Cross for every customer who comes in and had put canisters on the counters for donations from the public.
Tic Toc managers weren't suspicious when a man claiming to be from the Red Cross appeared Sunday and took the cash. He even gave them receipts for the canisters, she said.
However, Moore said that when she mentioned it to DeCaprio earlier this week, they realized it was a scam.
DeCaprio said the Red Cross had expected Tic Toc to collect the money and then send a check to his offices for the relief fund.
DeCaprio said he has told everyone collecting money that he will pick up the donations personally to prevent more thefts.
Police have problem: Victor Cubellis, New Castle police chief, said this morning that there is little the police can do because the Tic Toc clerks can't give an accurate description of the man who took the money.
However, Moore said he probably didn't get much.