Courtenay Habitat for Humanity ReStore manager Deb Bowman was greeted with an unpleasant surprise when she arrived at work Tuesday morning; a shattered front door.
A thief broke into the local second-hand store sometime overnight.
B次元官网网址淚t was clear that the intention of the person who broke in was to grab the donation box, which was visible from the door,B次元官网网址� said Bowman. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 one of those things, where itB次元官网网址檚 always been there, and no one has really thought B次元官网网址榟mm, you knowB次元官网网址次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 been there for so long we just donB次元官网网址檛 pay attention to it that much.B次元官网网址�
The donation box was secured to a heavy base, to prevent anyone from running off with it during regular store business hours.
B次元官网网址淚t was screwed onto a very heavy base. It could swivel, but B次元官网网址� The base was on the ground, on its side. So it looks like they were able to sheer it off of the screws. I donB次元官网网址檛 know how they did that; they were strong.B次元官网网址�
Bowman said it is hard to say how much money was in it, but there was at least one weekB次元官网网址檚 worth of donations. The person responsible for emptying the box has been on holidays.
The costs associated with the break-in are likely higher than the actual dollar amount stolen.
B次元官网网址淭he money lost is one thing. But we do have to pay to replace the window - that will probably be our biggest cost - and we had to open late, so we lost an hour of business,B次元官网网址� said Bowman.
That hour of business could be substantial, considering Courtenay is the top-selling reStore in Canada.
The box is a plexiglass house-shaped box, about one cubic foot in size. The donations were dropped through the B次元官网网址榗himney.B次元官网网址�
Bowman said dealing with crime is an ongoing issue for the store.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been with the ReStore since November of 2017 and this is the first time we have had a break-in [into the store itself], but we have had people regularly breaking into our yard,B次元官网网址� said Bowman. B次元官网网址淟iterally, there are areas where you can see where people have folded away the fencing, then folded it back so you canB次元官网网址檛 tell they were in there. People broke into our sea can and took metal and tools. ItB次元官网网址檚 a regular occurrence here, and when I say regular, I wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be surprised if we have people in [the yard] every night.B次元官网网址�
She said precautions have been taken, but thereB次元官网网址檚 only so much that can be done, on a non-profit budget.
B次元官网网址淭he cameras that can be installed are very expensive - we are talking thousands of dollars - but we have done things with lighting, making it brighter, which of course increases our Hydro bill every month. So itB次元官网网址檚 difficult,B次元官网网址� said Bowman. B次元官网网址淲e are constantly trying to do little things, making it more difficult for people to get in, but itB次元官网网址檚 like having a water leak on a boat; as soon as you plug up one hole, itB次元官网网址檚 coming out of another one with more force.B次元官网网址�
Bowman said shoplifting is another ongoing concern at the store.
B次元官网网址淧eople are changing price tags all the time - taking a $20 price tag and switching it with a $2 price tag. I caught a lady shoplifting a couple of weeks ago - literally just filling her bag as she walked around the store. ItB次元官网网址檚 a non-stop issue of people shoplifting and thieving from our store. People are shocked to hear that it happens to us, but it happens every day.B次元官网网址�
As for replacing the donation box?
B次元官网网址淣ot sure about the wisdom of that, considering the locale we are in right now,B次元官网网址� said Bowman. B次元官网网址淲e might put off on that until we are in a better location.B次元官网网址�
terry.farrell@blackpress.ca
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