Carmichael Outreach getting help after weekend robbery

Bettyann Cox is still puzzled after a weekend break-in and theft at Carmichael Outreach.

“You have to wonder what sort of circumstances someone would be living in that they would feel the desperate need to take from us — well, to take from anyone — but to take from us that is serving people in desperate need in the community,” Cox, the non-profit organization’s CEO, said Tuesday.

In a post on Facebook, Carmichael Outreach said someone broke into the building at 1510 12th Ave., sometime over the weekend.

It says laptops, a safe and donation money were stolen.

“We are disheartened knowing that the thieves likely knew that we are a non-profit and work with the vulnerable in our community,” a statement by the organization read. “Nonetheless, leading into this holiday season, we assure you that we will continue to work and provide our Carmichael family with the care and support they need.

“We will not pause the important work we do with so much at stake in our community.”

There weren’t any staff members or volunteers in the building at the time of the robbery, but Cox said some staff members went there Saturday afternoon after Carmichael’s alarm went off.

They checked out the building and, when everything seemed secure, they put the alarm back on and left. On Monday morning, Carmichael’s development co-ordinator found her office in shambles.

The safe contained cheques and cash that were to be deposited, along with $100 gift cards from the Co-op, prepaid Visa cards worth $150 apiece and gift certificates from companies.

Cox said the staff looked at security video footage and the break-in appeared to happen Friday at around 9:45 p.m.

“It was only about 10 minutes,” she said. “The person seemed to know what they were doing. (They) came into the building (and) went to the office with the safe. You see the person carrying the safe out, putting it on the floor (and) going into my office.

“(They) had a backpack so (they) stuffed my laptop in there, then went into the next office, grabbed the laptop case and laptop from there, put it all together, picked it all up and carried it out.”

The video also showed the perpetrator carry the safe outside and drop it by the building’s garbage. Shortly thereafter, they return in a vehicle and throw the safe in the back.

Cox estimated the value of the items taken at about $25,000.

“The majority of it was in cheques,” she said. “We now go through the process of contacting those individuals. They’ll have to put a stop payment on them (and) they incur a cost with that. Then hopefully they feel like reissuing that donation to us. If not, that’s understandable as well.

“It’s a significant sort of amount. Any amount hurts us as a non-profit that relies on donations and the good of the community and corporate donations and fundraising.”

Cox said the organization has enough operating funds that it won’t have to discontinue any programs. She’s also grateful that the community has shown tremendous support for Carmichael Outreach since the news broke.

“Having posted it on social media, immediately you saw people responding with donations through our online donation portal,” she said.

Cox said it has been overwhelming seeing all of the e-mails and calls flooding in looking to help the non-profit.

“There’s some that have reached out that are willing to replace our computer equipment that was taken,” Cox said. “Each little bit just makes you feel grateful for living in such a great community that people will step up and help.

“So maybe out of a terrible, horrible thing, some good will result overall.”

Carmichael Outreach has been running for more than 30 years in Regina.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Lisa Schick and Dallas Dahlseide