The Central Western Daily monitored the charity bins on Saturday, January 7, and spotted a man donating a leaf blower and whipper snipper at around 12.30pm.

Just half an hour later the man’s generosity was wiped away with the donations stolen from outside the door of the McNamara Street charity shop.

St Vincent de Paul diocesan executive officer Frank Moes said theft is a problem when people leave their donated goods outside the shop when it is closed.

“Morally I think it’s very clear,” Mr Moes said , referring to the dishonesty of stealing or destroying goods intended for charity.

Mr Moes said it wasn’t viable to have the store open for longer hours.

“Everyone here is a volunteer and it’s not fair or reasonable to increase their workload.”

He added that things had improved since eight CCTV cameras were installed 18 months ago.

“We’ve forwarded footage on to the police in the past,” he said .

Retail and distribution manager Billie Kirkland said the CCTV cameras had had an impact with a 20 per cent reduction in theft or people destroying goods outside the shop.

However, she said there is still room for improvement and urged people to only donate goods when the shop is open.

“By leaving items exposed you’re not only leaving them exposed to the weather, it also exposes them to theft,” Ms Kirkland.

Ms Kirkland said despite some issues of theft Vinnies would “like to thank the community for its support” regarding donations to the store.

The St Vincent de Paul Society store on McNamara Street is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4.30pm Friday and 9am to noon on Saturday.

nadine.morton@ruralpr ess.com