Items are disappearing from the Summerland Health-Care Auxiliary Thrift Store香蕉视频直播檚 donation bins before staff and volunteers have a chance to process them.

Kurt Evans, first vice-president of the thrift store, said the theft of donations is a growing problem for the charity store.

While items have been taken from donation bins in the past, the incidents have increased dramatically over the past year, he said. 

香蕉视频直播淓very night my security cameras ring,香蕉视频直播� he said.

In addition to the donation thefts, Evans said there have been at least three attempts to pry open the metal doors to the store.

Most of the thefts occur between 1:30 and 3:30 a.m., but at times there have been altercations between staff and people attempting to take donated items. 

Evans believes a growing transient population is responsible for the donation thefts. However, in at least one case, store security video showed a late-model pickup stopping at the store, with a team of people loading the truck with items from the donation bins.

In addition to the donation thefts, Evans said the thrift store is dealing with another related problem as garbage is being dumped at the store after hours.

The thrift store must then clean up the garbage, adding to volunteer time. There is also a cost involved in having the garbage hauled away.

香蕉视频直播淚t just adds more expense,香蕉视频直播� he said.

He added that he is more upset with the people dumping garbage than with those stealing donations. 

The people who dump their garbage tend to be residents of the community who know the purpose and mission of the thrift store in providing funds for health-related needs.

Evans said the thrift store香蕉视频直播檚 board is discussing methods to reduce donation thefts and garbage dumping.

Each year, the thrift store donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to health-related initiatives benefitting the community and the region. 

In 2023, the thrift store, on Victoria Road North, donated $402,024. Much of this money went to the Penticton Regional Hospital for its oncology expansion. 

The auxiliary has pledged $1 million over five years for the new clinic. By October, only two years into this five-year commitment, the auxiliary had raised $550,000.

The Summerland Health-Care Auxiliary was founded in 1909 and the thrift store opened its doors in 1958. There are around 120 volunteers who work at this store.

The Summerland Review has contacted the Summerland RCMP detachment for comment and will update this story when more information becomes available.