Second incident of vandalism this weekend against St. Vincent de Paul truck

CINCINNATI – Just days after three donation trucks were damaged and broken into at St. Vincent de Paul, the organization said a fourth truck was damaged in a second incident of vandalism over the weekend.

The organization said the first incident was discovered on the morning of July 11. Due to the damage to the three trucks that were initially destroyed, authorities said about 60 donation pickups were missed.

On Monday, the organization announced that a fourth truck had been damaged during the night of Saturday, July 12.

St. Vincent de Paul said a window of the fourth damaged truck was broken in front of the thrift store on Este Avenue, but there was nothing of value inside the truck at the time of the incident.

Police investigate break-in and theft in St. Vincent de Paul donation truck

Kaytlynd Lainhart, vice president of external relations, said the trucks transport anything that allows them to provide charitable service to the community.

“We are deeply saddened that our ability to help our neighbors has been interrupted,” Lainhart said in a press release sent Monday. “Damage and thefts like this cost us resources, staff time and the ability to collect donations and ultimately help our community.”

According to the press release, St. Vincent de Paul is no stranger to having its trucks targeted. Over the past two years, the organization said it has experienced 26 incidents in which 12 different vehicles were damaged or broken into. Damage ranged from smashed windows to theft of catalytic converters to locks being completely broken.

The thefts cost the organization more than $10,000 over time, the press release said.

“We have taken precautions such as installing cameras, installing cages around batteries, housing smaller vehicles inside and investing in new locks,” Lainhart said. “We are currently working on additional lighting and fencing, hiring off-duty police officers to monitor our property and other precautions that we do not wish to make public.”

Lainhart said the damage has left the organization unable to raise funds, but the security improvements St. Vincent de Paul must now make will also take up funds that could have otherwise been used to help someone in Cincinnati pay their utility bills.

Donations can be made to the SVDP website and any purchases at area thrift stores would help them recoup the costs, Lainhart said.