Surveillance shows donation box theft

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - Mobile police released surveillance video Wednesday of a man who they say stole a donation box with money for the Ronald McDonald House.

They said a man walked into the McDonald's Restaurant on Springdale Boulevard November 11, looked at the menu as if he was going to order, took the donation box for the Ronald McDonald House and a credit card machine, and took off on foot.

Liz Calci is the Assistant Director for Ronald McDonald House Charities in Mobile.

She was aware of the theft.

Calci said, "It’s just a little bit disheartening that someone would have to stoop to that level to steal money from Ronald McDonald House.  But, it’s just a very sad time right now."

She said the money is used to run the Ronald McDonald House in Mobile, which allows families of children hospitalized in Mobile to stay for just $12 a night, if they can afford it.

And, Calci said, many families can't, and are far away from home.

She said, "They're at least 25 miles or more away from their home, so they can't go home easily.  Many of our families are a hundred miles or more away from home."

Just hours after Mobile police put out the video, they received a tip that Daniel Doyle was in the Daphne City Jail.

Mobile police signed a warrant for him for second degree theft charges.

 Daphne police said Doyle was in jail there for stealing TVs; one from a CVS Pharmacy, the other from a Radio Shack, earlier this month.

 According to Metro Jail records, Doyle's been booked nine times this year, with five of those arrests in just the last two months.

 Mobile police said Doyle has a history of crimes similar like the one at the McDonald's.

 They said he has also stolen a tip jar from a Firehouse Subs Restaurant.