Hospice thrift reopens after second break-in this year

Hospice Community Thrift on Hilton Head Island, scene of a break-in when the store was unattended over the Christmas holidays, reopened Thursday for the first time in more than a week.

Volunteers spent Wednesday cleaning up debris from the shop, which was ransacked during a burglary that claimed about $600 in cash and merchandise, said thrift founder Fern Moore.

It is the second time burglars have targeted the store this year. The first break-in occurred around Halloween, Moore said.

The first incident was "cleaner," Moore said, as the door was broken and about $900 in cash from that day's proceeds was stolen.

This time, the front window was smashed, costing $250 to repair, and drawers, offices and the jewelry counter were rifled through, according to a Beaufort County Sheriff's Office report.

The shop raises money for the nonprofit Hospice Care of the Lowcountry.

"I think it's sad because we're going to have to put in a burglar alarm, which costs us money that could be helping people," Moore said.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday; and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. It is closed Sunday and Monday.

Follow reporter Allison Stice at twitter.com/lcblotter

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