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Arrest Made In Theft Of Stolen Salvation Army Kettle

FARMINGTON HILLS (WWJ) - The Farmington Hills police have made an arrest in connection with the theft of a Salvation Army donation kettle.

On Friday a man took the unmanned kettle from the Walgreens store near 8 Mile and Grand River roads.

Police, acting on a tip from a person who saw the media coverage, located the individual at a business on Grand River Ave. in Redford Township on December 12, 2015.

The alleged suspect is identified as Eric Joseph Heineman, age 29, from Redford Township.

Suspect Kettle Theft
Eric Joseph Heineman, age 29. (Booking photo)

Heineman was charged with possession of heroin and larceny under $200. He was arraigned by Magistrate Michael Sawicky on December 13, 2015 and given a bond of $5,500 cash/surety.

Donations started pouring in to replace the money stolen when a Salvation Army red kettle was swiped from outside a metro Detroit pharmacy.

Members of the Farmington Hills Police Department raised $248 and an anonymous donor chipped in $300.

The donation kettle and stand were set up Friday outside a Walgreens in Farmington Hills, northwest of Detroit. They were taken around 4:45 p.m. when a volunteer bell ringer manning the kettle went inside the store.

Heineman was arraigned Saturday December 13, 2015 and given a bond of $5,500 cash-surety.

His next court appearance will be on December 16, 2015 at 8:30 in the 47th District Court.

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