SEQUIM — Sequim police officers continue to investigate a string of theft and burglaries at the Sequim Food Bank.
Stephen Rosales, board president for the food bank at 144 W. Alder St., said gas was stolen from the facility’s delivery truck along with food and equipment from the facility’s buildings.
He said there had been at least four thefts in the past three weeks.
“The sad part is we’d probably help them with gas if they needed it,” Rosales said. “They just had to ask.”
The most recent theft occurred sometime between last Wednesday, Oct. 10 and last Thursday, the Sequim Police Department said.
Rosales said theft of gas at the facility about six months ago led staff and volunteers to install a locking gas cap. However, a thief or thieves opted to cut the truck’s gas line — leaving it out of commission for about a week and costing the food bank about $250 in repairs.
Staff members have been parking the truck by the road, Rosales said, so that if someone saw a thief they could report it. He said the thefts occurred at the main building and next door at 154 W. Alder St.
Rosales said someone broke into the food bank’s milk cooler and storage areas as well, taking food and equipment.
When the lock is cut on the milk freezer it costs about $60 for a new lock and sets of keys, Rosales said — all for a few gallons of milk.
Rosales is borrowing a dolly after the food bank’s dolly, worth an estimated $250, was stolen. Thieves also took a ladder.
“It’s a hassle,” Rosales said. “Now it costs us a lot of time and effort.”
Food bank volunteer Isabelle Dunlop said vandals also tore trim off the produce shed two separate times, and took bites out of donated food and spit it back into boxes.
“It almost feels like someone is harassing us,” Rosales said.
Staff Sgt. Sean Madison of the Sequim Police Department said officers don’t have any leads on the case now but that it is an active investigation.
“We’re taking steps to figure it out,” Madison said.
Those with information about the thefts are asked to contact Sequim Police Department, 152 W. Cedar St., at 360-683-7227, to speak with any available officer.
Sequim Food Bank continues to be open from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays, and from 9 a.m. to noon Fridays and Saturdays.
For more information about the Sequim Food Bank, call 360-683-1205 or 360-461-6038.
________
Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.
