A man has been charged after police caught him allegedly breaking into a Salvation Army op shop in Ballarat early on Wednesday morning.
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It’s believed the offender allegedly pried his way into the Creswick Road premises before a police divvy-van began heading to the store about 5am.
Officers arrived at the scene shortly afterwards and had him cornered.
The 46-year-old was arrested and taken to Ballarat police station, where he was interviewed and charged over the break-in at the Salvos and another business on Errard Street earlier in the night.
He was granted bail and will appear in court at a later date.
The op shop’s manager, Andrew van Gaalen, said on Wednesday money raised at the store through selling donated goods went back to the Ballarat community.
“I’m surprised, a lot of people think we’re raising money for profit, but we’re not,” he said.
“The money we raise through selling clothes, furniture and household items goes to the Salvation Army’s meals program and also emergency relief.”