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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The frustrated owner of the Village Reddi-Mart on Byrne Road said she isn't sure what more she can do to deter people from stealing the food bank donation box nestled next to the cash register at her store.

Last Saturday was the second time the food bank donation box was stolen from the Village Reddi-Mart on Byrne Road. A group of youth returned the stolen box, pictured above, shortly after it was found in Northland trailer park. - Lauren McKeon/NNSL photo

Theresa Olayvar has clamped the box down with a metal chain and has covered the clear plastic with cardboard labels so nobody can tell how much change is inside.

Despite these measures, the box was yanked from its spot at about 8:15 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31. It was the second time the box had been taken in about two months, said Olayvar. In the past, an SPCA donation box has also been stolen, she said.

"I don't know what else we can do," she said, calling the most recent theft "sad" and "pathetic."

Olayvar said while a handful of change and a couple of fives - the amount she estimated was in the box - may not look like much, "it's a big amount for the food bank."

She added another type of box might help, but said she doubts the food bank can afford to replace boxes with a more secure model.

Yellowknife RCMP Const. Stephanie Ward said the police have not made any arrests and are seeking the public's assistance.

"In these cases there's always a chance (of theft)," she said. "I know people are trying to help out the community. Unfortunately, these things do happen where there's just easy, easy access to it."

Ward said the best thing a store owner can do is make sure the box is secure, as Reddi-Mart has tried to do, and, if possible, employ surveillance cameras.

Other than that, staff should make sure to get a good description of the suspect and keep their own safety in mind, she said.

"We don't want to see anybody get hurt over change. It's always (the clerk's) safety in mind first," she said.

Police describe the suspect in this case as an aboriginal male, approximately 40 years-old. He has no facial hair and was described as wearing a white-hooded sweatshirt and green loose-fitting pants at the time of the theft.

He is said to have approached the till, grabbed the box and then ran out of the store towards Northland trailer park. RCMP said the man ditched the donation box in the trailer park and made off with the cash inside.

Olayvar said a group of youth returned the empty donation box to the store shortly after the theft. She added the suspect is well known to staff at the store - and other retail locations - and believes he has stolen before.