Theft arrests and record donations for Sallies | Taranaki News | Local News in Taranaki

THE Central Taranaki Salvation Army had their biggest collection ever from their annual public appeal last week, despite the theft of one of their collection buckets full of cash.
Major Maureen Ashton said they are thrilled with the result of the collection, which doubled their target figure.
She said collectors in Stratford, Eltham and Inglewood had a great response from the public and she thanks everybody who gave.
“We’re delighted. We offer a wide range of services and people know they may need us some day.”
Arrests
Three people have been arrested and charged by Stratford police for the theft of a collection bucket in Central Broadway on Monday last week.
It was alleged the collector was pushed, and his collection bucket, containing less than $100, was snatched in broad daylight.
The arrests came after a woman who had accidentally put a 20 Euro note in the bucket, contacted the Salvation Army to get it back in exchange for New Zealand money.
Realising that the note had been put into the bucket that had been stolen, the Army asked Stratford banks to be on the lookout.
When the note was presented on Friday last week, at the ANZ, outside of which the bucket had been originally stolen, the teller contacted the police.
They arrested the man who had presented it and within hours this led to the arrest of two others.
A 28-year-old Papakura man was arrested and charged with receiving, and a 21-year-old Eltham male was arrested and charged with the theft of $80 and conspiracy to steal.
A third person, a 16-year-old youth, was also arrested and charged with theft, conspiracy to steal and making a false complaint. He was referred to Youth Aid.