For the last couple of years, Serenity Thrift Store has been experiencing people breaking into dumpsters, illegal dumping, vandalism and theft.

Serenity stores director Belicia (Belle) Muñoz said within the last year she has noticed those issues happening— and escalating — nearly every day.

“We actually drove to our parking lot and had to call the officers because there was somebody literally inside our dumpster at 10:45 at night,” she said.

People have been breaking into the dumpsters and taking things, then scattering trash around the property, she said..

“They will literally break electronics just to get specific materials on there for resale, like copper wiring or conductors,” said Gabriel Bagno, operations manager for Serenity Stores.

To try to put a stop to this, thrift store staff have started taking safety measures such as locking the dumpsters.

“There was a week that we replaced the lock four times within one week,” Muñoz said.

She said they have tried using stronger locks, reinforced trash bins and soldering the rod on the dumpster, but it has not stopped the issues.

“We’ve had some people, in the middle of the night, actually torch the lid and actually get the plastic completely off,” Muñoz said.

According to Muñoz, people have been sleeping on the property and going to the bathroom around the outside of the building or behind the dumpsters.

“It’s been a little frustrating,” she said.

The thrift store has also been experiencing graffiti on its dumpsters and sidewalks.

Muñoz said the police have been helpful by trespassing people when they are sleeping outside the building, going into the dumpsters or acting out of control.

Donations that are being dropped off after hours are either stolen or scattered around the parking lot. Muñoz asks that donations be dropped off only between 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Serenity House Thrift Store, 551 W Washington St.

Muñoz said that these problems have been costing them time between calling police, fire and cleaning the messes.

“I personally don’t come in as happy and joyful as I used to,” she said. “I never know what’s going to be here when I get here.”

Bagno said it has been frustrating and has cost them time away from customers and producing a quality storefront.

Customers have also been affected by people loitering or making a scene outside of the store.

“We had a customer say, ‘I want to escort it out because there’s a man panhandling outside your store,’” Muñoz said.

It is important to Muñoz, she said, that she is able to help customers feel safe and have a good shopping experience.

Muñoz said that they are still looking for solutions to help them manage this problem and that is hard because since they are a non-profit they don’t have the funding for a 24/7 security guard.

Photo courtesy of Belicia Muñoz / Serenity Thrift Store staff report that people have been vandalizing the dumpsters and sidewalk near the store.