OPD Searching for Salvation Army Burglar

By Alyssa Schnugg
News editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

The Oxford Police Department is still searching for an unknown suspect who broke into the Salvation Army on Dec. 2 and stole an undisclosed amount of cash.

Interim Police Chief Jeff McCutchen said a suspect has not been identified at this time.

“Now more than ever we need an outpouring of support, both in volunteering for the kettle drive and in putting money into them,” said Miranda Mansell, service center director for the Salvation Army in Oxford. “All of the money we collect goes right back into the community through everything the Salvation Army does. This isolated incident just drives home we need even more support so we can continue to do all the things we do for those in need.”

Donations are used to help Oxford residents who are struggling, whether they need assistance with a utility bill or clothes and furniture after their home burned in a fire or was lost to a natural disaster. Regionally, some of the funds help to keep the Salvation Army Homeless Shelter in Tupelo running since Oxford does not have a shelter.

OPD released a short video on Monday showing a silver Chevrolet Avalanche driving near the Salvation Army at 1:07 a.m. on Dec. 2. They are asking anyone with information to contact OPD at 662-232-2400.

Mansell said there are still plenty of open time slots for people to volunteer to ring the bell and collect donations at Walmart and Kroger over the next two weeks.

Signing up to be a bell ringer is done online through the Salvation Army’s Facebook page or via the following direct links:

• Kroger (Main Entrance) – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D4CA8AA22A6F85-bell
• Kroger (Pharmacy Entrance) – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D4CA8AA22A6F85-bell1
• Wal-Mart (Market Entrance) – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D4CA8AA22A6F85-bell2
• Wal-Mart (Pharmacy Entrance) – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040D4CA8AA22A6F85-bell3

Volunteers can choose the day, time and location of where they’d like to ring the bell. While the shifts are broken up into two-hour shifts, Mansell said volunteers are welcome to volunteer for more than one consecutive shift or break them up throughout the week.

Volunteers can also call the Oxford Salvation Army store at 662-236-2260 to sign up over the phone.