Ohio man admits stealing Salvation Army kettle

PAINESVILLE, Ohio (AP) — A 55-year-old Northeast Ohio man has pleaded guilty to stealing a Salvation Army donation kettle days before Christmas.

The News-Herald of Willoughby reports Jeffrey L. Gregg pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft on Wednesday in Painesville. He’ll be sentenced Jan. 16.

Deputies said Gregg — who has no permanent address — stole the red kettle from in front of a Giant Eagle grocery store Dec. 21. He did it by convincing the real Salvation Army volunteers that he was taking over the bell-ringing shift. Soon after, he put the kettle in a car and left.

Detectives used surveillance video to catch up with Gregg, who was found sleeping in his car in a motel parking lot. He admitted taking the kettle.