WAUKESHA, Wis. — The search continues for a missing Salvation Army red kettle that disappeared the weekend after Thanksgiving in Waukesha County.

The nonprofit said several brass bells also disappeared around the same time.

What You Need To Know

  • The search continues for a missing Salvation Army red kettle that disappeared the weekend after Thanksgiving in Waukesha County

  • The nonprofit said several brass bells also disappeared around the same time

  • The Salvation Army said it chose to not file police reports because its focus is on fundraising, but it is still looking for the items. As of Dec. 12, the Salvation Army said it need to raise another $160,000 to reach its $880,000 goal by Christmas Eve

  • Initially, two kettles were reported missing, but one of them was found when security footage showed a Salvation Army driver simply picked up the kettle but forgot to replace it with another 

Two red kettles were originally reported missing — one in Pewaukee and one in Waukesha.

But upon further investigation, surveillance photos from outside a Pewaukee, Wis., Pick ‘n Save, showed a Salvation Army driver picking up the kettle.

“It showed clearly, the driver walking away with the kettle, but forgetting to swap it out with an empty kettle,” Josh Pham, Salvation Army fundraising and grants specialist, said.

The Salvation Army located that kettle, which was picked up by the driver, which has roughly $2,700 in it.

However, that second red kettle is still missing from Blain’s Farm & Fleet in Waukesha, Wis.

“We don’t obviously want to accuse anyone of anything until something is more definitive, but it could’ve been a prank, you know, by someone,” Pham said.

Pham also said 12 brass bells are unaccounted for from both Pick ‘N Save and Blain’s Farm & Fleet, as well as Walmart locations in Waukesha and Muskego, Wis.

This saddens long-time bell-ringer, Albumman Compton, who legally changed his name to “Albumman” because of his love for vinyl records.

Albumman brings different albums to his bell-ringing shift to put on display for shoppers at the Waukesha Pick ‘N Save, located on Sunset Drive.

“I know it’s the bell that brings the people, but the people look at all these albums and go, ‘Oh,’ and then put money in the kettle,” Compton said.

He’s been volunteering with the Salvation Army for the last 14 years. Right now he volunteers six days a week for 12 hours a day.

Through his dedication, he has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars for the Salvation Army.

“It doesn’t matter how much — little bit, a lot… It all helps. It all adds up when everybody else helps,” he explained.

The thought of hard-earned money disappearing is upsetting to the volunteer.

“It’s not really hurting me, but it’s still hurting the Salvation Army,” Compton said.

The Salvation Army is still looking into the disappearances of the red kettle and the bells and is hoping for the best.

The Salvation Army said it chose to not file police reports because its focus is on fundraising. As of Dec. 12, the Salvation Army said it need to raise another $160,000 to reach its $880,000 goal by Christmas Eve.

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