Thieves stealing from Salvation Army Christmas kettles in Canada are becoming bolder, like the one who used a stolen pot to collect donations for himself.

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The charitable agency's kettles have been disappearing in growing numbers, especially in the provinces of British Columbia and Ontario, reports the Canadian Broadcasting Corp.

Among the thefts in Ontario, two kettles containing about $400 were taken from an 86-year-old volunteer at an Ottawa mall Dec. 9. She said it was the first such incident she had experienced in 29 years of collecting donations.

"It's a very brazen thing to do," said Capt. John Murray, a spokesperson for the Salvation Army. "In the (Vancouver) incident, a man stole the kettle and placed it outside a shopping mall to solicit donations."

When someone realized he wasn't a legitimate Salvation Army volunteer, police were called. Later, he claimed he was only watching a friend's kettle.