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Recent break-in costly for Cedar Crest

People asked to not drop off donations after office hours

When the Cedar Crest Society for Community Living building on Cedar Avenue in 100 Mile House was broken into around 10 p.m. on Oct. 14, a little bit of change was taken from a donation jars.

However, the culprits caused substantial damage breaking into the facility, and it was costly for the local non-profit organization that provides assistance to folks who have fallen on hard times.

Society executive director Tim Guthrie says the culprits gained entry by going down the ramp to the below-street-level entry, completely smashing the glass front door and smashing the window near the lock set on the inside door.

They opened the door and set off the alarm. They took the donation can, which had just been emptied, and ran away.

Noting the society has insurance with a $1,000 deductible, Guthrie says the damage to the two doors came in at just over the deductible amount.

The society decided to pay for the repairs rather than risk an increase in premiums due to a frequency of claims.

In the aftermath, the society installed security cameras, which provide complete coverage around the building, so if anything like this happens again, police will have surveillance tape.

Guthrie and the society board are asking people who make donations to do so during office hours rather than leave them at the door at the bottom of the ramp.

"One of the reasons why we have traffic and activity down there is because people continue or insist on bringing donations to us after hours.

"I guess it seems ungrateful in some ways, but it is problematic."

He notes that when they lost the old building to arson, it's believed donated clothing and other items, which were left after hours, were used for igniting the fire.

"Sometimes donations, which are not in a sealed bag, that are left after hours, end up being garbage for a number of reasons, and then it costs the society because we have to pay to have our garbage taken away."

The Thrift Store is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday.