Salvation Army: no Angel Tree theft

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - An alleged theft of Angel Tree gifts that spawned three police reports was just a misunderstanding between the Salvation Army and a volunteer -- and no toys were stolen.

Late Thursday afternoon, a full day after a woman walked into three separate Angel Tree dropoff locations and walked out with the toys, Salvation Army officials concluded a volunteer with extra time on her hands decided to pick up some toys and take them to the Salvation Army.

The leaders noticed a large toy drop at a Salvation Army thrift store around 10:30 a.m. Thursday, and it took a while to see it the toys matched the missing donations. They did.

Roger Snider, the Salvation Army spokesperson, told 24 Hour News 8 they met around 4:30 p.m. with the woman, who is, indeed, a volunteer with the Salvation Army, and that "her intentions were good."

All the toys thought to be missing are believed to be accounted for.

The volunteer picked up Angel Tree donations at three locations on 28th Street around 4 p.m. Wednesday. Police agencies investigated and put out a description and photos of the woman.