Singapore
Mar 6, 2010
Thieves steal Salvo donations
<!-- by line --> By Debby Kwong
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> FOR 10 years, Ms Lena Chew, 32, has dropped off boxes of clothes at the Salvation Army's collection point in Marine Parade. Two weeks ago, the marketing communications manager saw a man at the site walking away with two paper bags. A big sign at the site, which has been there since 1999, states: 'Donated items here are the property of the Salvation Army. Stealing them is an offence punishable by law.' Accountant Josephine Oei, 33, used to donate items but has since stopped after seeing passers-by scavenging for items. 'If you drive by that area, especially in the evenings, it is highly likely you'll see someone near the bins and just taking the whole bag,' she said. A check by The Sunday Times with stall owners at 80s Corner coffee shop, opposite the donation site, found this to be true.
One stall owner, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Chong, said: 'We don't bother to call the police as it's too troublesome. And most of them look like they need the items to use or to sell. Unlike what many may think, it's not only the foreign workers taking things,' she said. Ms Oei has seen people who come in cars to browse for items. Items donated to the Salvation Army at its five family thrift stores are used to fund social and community programmes. Salvation Army's public relations manager Diana Pang said it has been dogged by thefts at all of its seven collection points. Some thieves caught by members of the public were let off with warnings. 'In some serious cases, the police were requested to arrest them,' said Ms Pang.
Those who want to be sure that their donated items reach the Salvation Army can send them personally to its processing centre at 309 Upper Serangoon Road. They will get an acknowledgement receipt stating what they have given.
Read the full story in The Sunday Times.
Mar 6, 2010
Thieves steal Salvo donations
<!-- by line --> By Debby Kwong
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar --> <!-- story content : start --> FOR 10 years, Ms Lena Chew, 32, has dropped off boxes of clothes at the Salvation Army's collection point in Marine Parade. Two weeks ago, the marketing communications manager saw a man at the site walking away with two paper bags. A big sign at the site, which has been there since 1999, states: 'Donated items here are the property of the Salvation Army. Stealing them is an offence punishable by law.' Accountant Josephine Oei, 33, used to donate items but has since stopped after seeing passers-by scavenging for items. 'If you drive by that area, especially in the evenings, it is highly likely you'll see someone near the bins and just taking the whole bag,' she said. A check by The Sunday Times with stall owners at 80s Corner coffee shop, opposite the donation site, found this to be true.
One stall owner, who wanted to be known only as Mrs Chong, said: 'We don't bother to call the police as it's too troublesome. And most of them look like they need the items to use or to sell. Unlike what many may think, it's not only the foreign workers taking things,' she said. Ms Oei has seen people who come in cars to browse for items. Items donated to the Salvation Army at its five family thrift stores are used to fund social and community programmes. Salvation Army's public relations manager Diana Pang said it has been dogged by thefts at all of its seven collection points. Some thieves caught by members of the public were let off with warnings. 'In some serious cases, the police were requested to arrest them,' said Ms Pang.
Those who want to be sure that their donated items reach the Salvation Army can send them personally to its processing centre at 309 Upper Serangoon Road. They will get an acknowledgement receipt stating what they have given.
Read the full story in The Sunday Times.
