Thieves steal charity's kettles

RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Salvation Army officials in the St. Louis area plan to increase security after thieves got away with three kettles containing hundreds of dollars.

KMOX Radio reported the kettles were taken from outside of stores in the Richmond Heights and Crestwood areas.

A Salvation Army spokesman said that if the thieves were needy, they could have gotten more financial help just by asking than they got from the kettles.