Suspects sought in string of thrift store burglaries
Items removed from storage area outside Amberly’s Place shop on Avenue A
Yuma police are looking for two men suspected of stealing items from the donation storage area of a nonprofit thrift store on four occasions.
The thefts occurred over a twoday period between May 31 and June 1 at the Amberly’s Place Thrift Shop, located at 812 S. Avenue A, and police are asking for the public’s help.
The suspects, who have not been identified yet, were caught on surveillance cameras taking various donated items out of crates kept in the agency’s storage area, which is on the side of the building and enclosed by a locked fence.
According to Trevor Umphress, the marketing and fundraising coordinator for Amberly’s place, the thieves stole well over $1,000 worth of merchandise.
“They rummaged through the crates and took the items they felt were theirs to take,” Umphress said. “What is horrible about it is they are stealing from victims.”
The donations get sorted and stored by category when they are made, with Unmphress saying clothing, household appliances and other accessories were among the items stolen.
“A crime like this also affects the safety of our volunteers, who don’t feel safe anymore,” he added.
Amberly’s Place is the only family advocacy center in Yuma with a crisis team to assist victims of domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault and elder abuse.
The thrift store is one of the ways Amberly’s Place raises money to help abuse victims with expenses not covered by grants and other funding it receives.
The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to call them at (928) 783-4421 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.
If your information leads to an arrest, you may receive up to a $1,000 cash reward.