Middletown >> An unknown suspect or suspects broke into the shed of the United Methodist Women’s Thrift Store sometime between Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning.
Longtime volunteer Maria Noe said that while the main thrift store building on Washington Street sustained no damage, the shed door was broken and needed to be repaired.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived on the scene at about 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, Lt. Steve Brooks said Monday morning.
No money was stolen, and volunteers cannot asses what or how much property was taken from the shed, which is the storage area for pre-sorted store items, according to Noe.
“What they were looking for I don’t know,” she said. “It’s a thrift shop, we get donations some really good and really bad stuff.”
Fortunately, the damage was little enough that the husband of a fellow volunteer fixed the door at no charge the same day the break in was discovered on Saturday, Noe said.
Garry Morse, using a drill and glue, managed to repair the broken door jamb and replace the striker plate in about two hours.
The all-volunteer thrift shop has been operational since 1985, and Noe began volunteering in 1988. All proceeds go directly to the Middletown Methodist Church and two mission programs it supports.
She said the only other notable burglary in recent times occurred about two and a half years ago. One of the double doors of the main building was ripped out to get inside, where about $200 cash was stolen. It cost the shop roughly $1,000 to fix damage to the doors, Noe said.
The United Methodist Women’s Thrift Store is open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 1 to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The store is located at 21216 Washington St.in Middletown. Call 987-9743 for information.
