Caught on Camera: Customer Steals Donation Box from Conway Goodwill Store

"We got to find you a coat and some mittens," she said, turning her buggy down the aisle as her son races ahead. "Where ya going buddy?"

Mom Miranda Hulsey can always find something on the shelves at Goodwill that she'd like to walk out with.

"They're growing up so fast it's just easier to get clothes here," she said. "Every time we come here the place is packed and people are loading up their baskets."

The charity's low prices mean Conway shoppers like her get bagfuls at a steal.

"Affordable for everybody, everybody benefits from it," she said.

But a customer checking out on Saturday decided to swipe more than his card at the register.

"The lady bought a few shirts, but they took more than what they bought," said Goodwill Industries North Arkansas District Manager Francy Ford.

Taking a look at surveillance photos, you can see the cashier turn her back to the customer, and that's when he secretly loads up his loot.

"He just reached over and took the 'Change for a Change' box," Ford said. "This isn't something we're used to. This is the season of giving, not taking."

The donation box was filled with about $50 in folks' change from their transactions. What makes the theft worse, Ford said, is he had a child in tow.

"Stealing from Goodwill in front of your children and family is not acceptable," she said.

The "Change for a Change" donations go directly to programs aimed at placing unemployed Arkansans into well-paying jobs. So $50 dollars is a big difference to someone who could be helped.

"They took money from potential job seekers. The bottom line is if that person needed help finding a job we would have helped them find a job. But we want them to do it right," Ford said.

"Goodwill staff say they've never heard of anyone actually stealing a donation box, but they're making sure no one else walks away with the change. As you can see here, this box now taped down and pad-locked.

Loyal customers like Hulsey said they're baffled by the show of bad taste. But they'll continue spending their cash to fill the goodwill gap in Mr. Sticky Fingers' moral fiber.

"Stealing from Goodwill, that's just crazy. Maybe someone was so desperate that they needed something -- but that's pretty bad," Hulsey said. "But that's not going to keep me from coming here or handing over my change at the end.

If you recognize the individual in the surveillance images, you're asked to contact police.