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Habitat for Humanity ReStore victim of smash and grab

Non-profit has window smashed and donation box stolen on weekend
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A smashed entrance door shows evidence of a break-in at Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore early Sunday when thieves stole the store’s donation box that might have contained up to $500. (Photo submitted)

The Nanaimo ReStore had its donation box taken when it became the victim of a smash and grab on the weekend.

Sarah Pachkowsky, Habitat for Humanity community engagement manger, said the crime happened Sunday at about 4 a.m.

“Basically it was two individuals, which we do have video surveillance of, who smashed a rock through our front window close to where the till and everything would be,” Pachkowsky said.

She said the security video, which was turned over to Nanaimo RCMP, shows the suspects then climbed through the broken window and grabbed the store’s Habitat for Humanity donation box.

“It was a large plastic box shaped like a house and they quickly grabbed that,” she said.

The suspects broke the chain attached to the donation box and then quickly exited out through the store’s shattered front window.

Pachkowsky said because the suspects knew where to quickly find the box, store staff are assuming the culprits had shopped there previously.

She estimates there could have been as much as $500 in the box, which is about the average amount of donations that accumulate in the box toward the end of each month.

“We take the donations out once a month to make a monthly tally of the money raised that way and it’s near the end of the month. We’re taking a guess that it’s around that, however, of course, we don’t know,” Pachkowsky said.

Sgt. Donovan Tait, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said Monday that police were investigating.

“It’s definitely a sensitive target that we’re actively investigating,” Tait said.

Sales proceeds from Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore help build homes for qualifying low-income families. The organization is the second local not-for-profit to be targeted by thieves in just over a week. Nanaimo Foodshare Society was hit Aug. 18 by thieves who stole about $4,000 worth of solar power panels from the roof of its building on Pine Street.

photos@nanaimobulletin.com



Chris Bush

About the Author: Chris Bush

As a photographer/reporter with the Nanaimo News Bulletin since 1998.
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