Suspect sought for stealing donation jar from New Jersey food bank

Police are investigating after surveillance video caught a suspect stealing an entire donation jar containing money meant for a local food bank in New Jersey.

Surveillance video shows a man wearing a ball cap and Adidas t-shirt browsing the menu at the Harrison House Dinner in Mullica Hill just after opening at 6 a.m. When the waitress leaves to go in the kitchen, the thief can be seen grabbing the donation jar and taking off.

An estimated $200 was inside the jar, intended for a Mullica Hill food bank.

"That's $200 worth of material that somebody is not getting or supplies that someone is not getting, so it makes a difference," says Paul Melson of Trinity United Methodist Church.

The Your Place at the Table food bank run out of Trinity United Methodist Church serves about 50 families. The loss roughly translates to food that could feed four families for a month.

As word of the theft spread, generous patrons started to refill the empty jar.

"It's just sickening," customer Teresa Six tells FOX 29. "People just don't have any respect anymore."

"They are going to get that money back," diner owner Constantine Benas says. "They are going to feed these families ready and get ready for the holidays so when the holidays come, everyone can enjoy the holidays."

With crystal clear surveillance video, Harrison Township Police say they are confident they'll catch the thief.