The Salvation Army has found itself in a strange conundrum as it has been struggling to find ways to deal with scavengers targeting the receiving dock at its 18th Avenue community support centre.
It's been the scene of four overnight break and enters in the last 11 days and, more often than not, culprits have been making off with items of little, if any, value, according to the church's community ministry director Roy Law.
"What is happening is that over at our donation store receiving dock, people will give us clothing or whatever and then we also have a recycling program where people bring in electronics that are just no good," Law said.
"That kind of stuff gets left on the dock overnight... and almost on a nightly basis we have people coming through here, climbing our fence and digging through and taking what they want."
Others have become more brazen. The fence was cut out on one occasion and on another someone tried to pry open the receiving bay door.
Security cameras are in place but the acts have prompted Law to hire a local security firm to conduct nightly patrols, in part because of concerns someone might get hurt.
"A lady was in our dumpster for over an hour and at one point passed out," Law said.
"That could create some liability challenges if the garbage guys ever come by and hook up (while someone is in there)."
Law said repairing the damage created in some of the attempts, which has included the theft of a 40-foot tarp used during weekend garage sales, has cost the Salvation Army money that would otherwise go towards helping out those in need.
"The amount that it's costing us to secure stuff of no value, it doesn't compute," Law said.
He prefers they come in through the front door during the day rather than sneaking over the back fence at night.
"These people who need stuff, what do you think we do for a living? You can come here during the day and get it for free," he said.
Early Wednesday morning, RCMP apprehended two people - a 25-year-old man and a 20-year-old woman, both from Prince George and known to police - after general duty officers saw them allegedly try to break into the building. RCMP also believe the man may be behind the theft of a bike and cellphone from the back yard of an 800 block Freeman Street home. The two have since been released on a promise to appear in court.
Anyone who sees suspicious activity while driving by the centre is urged to call the Prince George RCMP at 250-561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca, or Text-A-Tip to CRIMES using keyword "pgtips."
