Sally Ann struggles with greedy stealing from needy

Vandals and thieves continue to leave the Salvation Army with a messy and costly cleanup.

Thrift stores in the Halifax Regional Municipality(HRM)are facing a rash of thefts and vandalism of their donation bins, leaving the non-profit group with less money to help those in need.

Barbara Warren, district manager for the Thrift stores, said this is the worst she's seen in the 15 years she's worked for the Salvation Army.

"The bins have been vandalized every weekend for at least the past six months in one way or another," she told CBC News Tuesday.

Warren said people are breaking locks and bin doors to steal items or simply trash them. In some cases, bins have been covered in graffiti.

The problem is particularly acute at the Green Street, Strawberry Hill, Wyse Road and Sackville locations. The group has already removed a bin in Halifax's north end.

This leaves the Salvation Army with fewer items to sell because clothing that is damaged and dirty ends up in the landfill.

"It's very discouraging," Warren said. "When people donate, they do it with the understanding that it's going to go to that good cause."

One new plastic bin has been damaged at least six times, forcing the Salvation Army to replace locks and make repairs.

"All of it is money that has to be diverted from helping people in the HRM," said Warren.

If there is a way to get into a bin, bandits seem to find it.

Thegrouphas to spend money on surveillance, lighting, locks and security. It also has to truck useless items to the landfill.

Warren said one man was caught red-handed by police breaking into a donation bin. After he was released, he returned to the store to ask staff to let his girlfriend out of the bin.

It wasn't the first time Warren heard about someone squeezing through a chute.

"We've had people who've put their children into the bin, we've had people with hooks on the end of fishing rods pulling clothing and things out. We've had many people who sleep in the bins, as well," she said.

One brazen thief even used a U-Haul. Warren said the man backed the vehicle up to a bin at the Green Street store in Halifax, used a blowtorch on the locks, and then made off with the items inside.

Warren encourages people to bring donations directly to the Thrift stores. If they have to put them in bins, she suggests doing it on a weekday when the bins are serviced more often.

Though Warren is hopeful the string of thefts and vandalism acts will end, she's not overly optimistic.

"If somebody wants to steal something, they're going to find a way," she said.