The Salvation Army thrift store in Courtenay is out several thousand dollars after being robbed in the early morning hours on Sunday, June 18.
Community ministries director Brent Hobden figures the charity lost about $6,000 in product and damages to the Kilpatrick Avenue store.
“It’s frustrating,” said Hobden, who figures two people broke into the premises, which contain security cameras. “It’s a bit difficult for us to know who they are, but it looks like the police recognize one of the two.”
The thieves smashed the front glass door and stole a television from the wall, several articles of clothing and about $200 cash from a red kettle that collects money for children’s camps. They also ripped shelving units from the wall.
“Whoever it was even took the time to do some shopping while they were in there,” Hobden said.
“This is the second time in eight days,” he added, noting a rock was thrown through the same door at the store around 10 p.m. Friday, June 9.
Earlier in the year, the cameras caught a person unloading a number of items — mostly junk — from a truck at the thrift store, which cost the Sally Ann time and money. Disposing the items at the Cumberland landfill cost about $350.
Each year, the local Salvation Army spends about $60,000 dealing with garbage. That money would pay for about 34,000 hot lunches.
Most of the garbage is from people dropping off un-saleable items after hours.