Jordan Moore (left) and the stolen Salvation Army kettle that police recovered from a Loop alley. | CPD; Twitter

One of the Loop’s ever-present “bucket boys” is charged with stealing a Salvation Army bell ringer’s kettle and stand from outside Macy’s on State Street this week, according to police records.

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Officers arrested 24-year-old Jordan Moore shortly after noon Friday when they recognized him from surveillance images of the theft, according to police records.

The bell ringer told police a thief took his entire bucket, stand, and donation sign while he took a bathroom break around 3:45 p.m. Wednesday. The kettle probably contained about $300 in donations, the Salvation Army said. The pot and stand are worth another $200.

Surveillance video captured images of the thief running on Washington Street with the stolen kettle immediately after it was taken, police said.

And, when cops in the Loop later received images of the thief, one officer recognized the culprit as Moore, who frequently beats a bucket for money along State Street, according to police records.

Shortly after noon on Friday, patrol officers saw Moore banging his bucket at State and Washington and stopped him for an interview.

Meanwhile, a passerby told police that there was an unattended Salvation Army kettle in an alley just a few steps away. Police recovered the stolen kettle and took Moore into custody.