Two men have been charged with stealing a Salvation Army bucket outside of a suburban grocery store, according to DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin.
Kavin Gipson and Roosevelt Huddleston allegedly approached the donation bucket outside of Ultra Foods in Lombard while the bell ringer was inside the store around 7 p.m. Thursday. Gipson took the bucket while Huddleston acted as a lookout before both of them fled in a car Gipson was driving, according to the state's attorney's office.
The two men then led police in a high-speed chase through a residential area before police caught up with them and arrested them.
Gipson, 48, of the 5100 block of Ridge Avenue in Hillside, was charged with one count of aggravated fleeing and eluding and one count of misdemeanor theft. Huddleston, 51, of the 300 block of Morris Avenue in Bellwood, was charged with one felony count of theft.
Both men appeared in bond court Friday morning, and bond was set at $20,000 for Gipson and $30,000 for Huddleston.
Gipson and Huddleston are due in court next on Dec. 30.
"It is very disheartening that in the midst of the holiday season, these two men allegedly stole money intended to brighten the holidays for those truly in need," Berlin said.
