Ronald McDonald House Donation Box Stolen from Business

We've had a kid's tip jar stolen, churches broken into, a cemetery robbed of copper vases, and now a new category under the heading of "How low can you go?":

Stealing donations intended to help very ill children and their families.

At 3:47 p.m. Friday, an employee of Yo Mama frozen yogurt shop, 1349 Wauwatosa Ave., reported to police that a customer had stolen their Ronald McDonald House donation box, containing about $50, off the counter.

She told police the man had been in the shop twice before within the past week and a half to talk about yogurt cakes. On Friday, she said, they had been talking about cake pans, and she had to briefly leave the counter to get a spatula. When she returned, he was gone and so was the donation box.

In surveillance video, the man is seen putting his coat over the box and quickly leaving the store. He is white, probably 35 to 45 years old, 5-feet-9 to 5-feet-11 inches tall, weighing 150 to 160 pounds, with brown hair and eyes and wearing a gray winter hat, a dark blue coat, long-sleeved green shirt and blue jeans.

The clerk said she would definitely recognize the man if she were to see him again.

Yo Mama owner Becky Berger said Thursday in an interview that neither the box nor the cash had been returned.

"We're just all very sad," Berger said. "Ronald McDonald House is very near and dear to our hearts."

Berger said she was not present at the time but knew exactly who the clerk was talking about.

"He's been in here a lot and would likely be recognizable to many people in the area," she said.

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Ronald McDonald House Charities | Eastern Wisconsin is at 8948 Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa, on the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center grounds north of Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

Ronald McDonald House is dedicated to easing the burden of families whose lives have been disrupted as a result of their child's illness or injury. The charity provides lodging, therapies and activities for families of children undergoing lengthy hospital stays, especially at Children's Hospital, a Level 1 pediatric care facility.

Donations are welcome.