PORT DEPOSIT, Md. – Unfortunately, nothing is sacred when it comes to thieves, as even donation boxes for local and national charities are snatched from convenience store counters, WMAR-TV reports. Such thefts can “stir up strong negative emotions with just about everyone,” said Jeff Lenard, NACS vice president of strategic industry initiatives. “Unfortunately, a convenient location to collect donations can be a convenient location for theft.”

Last weekend, a Landhope Farms retailer had a woman come into the store and walk out with a donation box stuffed with around $150 in bills and coins for BraveEli.com, a pediatric cancer charity. No one has been arrested for the crime yet.

Retailers can help prevent such thefts. Lenard recommended securely attaching the donation canister to the countertop, such as with a chain or something similar. “Depending upon customer counts, the donation canister could be moved below the counter in slower periods when it might be easier for someone to grab the donations and quickly leave without being noticed, but that hampers donations during certain periods,” he said.

A NACS survey found that last year, convenience stores contributed or collected close to $1 billion for charities during a 12-month period. More than 97% of retailers responding to the survey said they donate to nonprofits.