The theft of a $150 decorative blanket from the Salvation Army thrift store is perplexing police and members of the charitable organization.

Lt. David Kyle of the Haines Salvation Army said the nature of the theft was upsetting. “The money that would have generated goes one of two places. It keeps my door open to help people, or it goes toward social services to help people,” Kyle said.

Interim police chief Simon Ford said stealing from the Salvation Army amounts to stealing from the community. “The Salvation Army uses the proceeds from sales of items like this to fund programs that directly benefit people in need in Haines, so really it seems like whoever did this didn’t just do it to the Salvation Army, they did it to the people of Haines,” Ford said.

The blanket was hanging from a nail on the interior of the Salvation Army’s Union Street building. It had been anonymously donated last week.

Kyle said he was momentarily distracted when the theft occurred. “It was in and out. I can hear when somebody’s in the store and I’ll at least keep track of them, but they must have made a beeline for it.”

Though people swipe small knick-knacks all the time, nothing this valuable has ever been stolen from the store, Kyle said.

Ford said the police have no leads.

The 2-by-2-foot blanket is embroidered leather with a checkerboard design and a two-inch fur trim.

Anyone with information should call police at 766-2121.