Image: Unique Thrifting via Facebook

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Unusual incident

Two people wind up in handcuffs over perception they were damaging a Chilliwack donation bin and stealing from it

Sep 18, 2025 | 8:59 AM

CHILLIWACK — A Chilliwack thrift and consignment store claims two of its associates were handcuffed by police after a member of the public reported the pair for what she thought was vandalism to a Diabetes Canada collection bin and related theft.

Unique Thrifting, located at 45921 Wellington Avenue in downtown Chilliwack, wrote in a social media post on Wednesday (Sept. 17) at 1:02 p.m., that two of its crew members were repairing vandalism to a Diabetes Canada donation container in Chilliwack sometime this past week, doing the work that keeps the bins running and supports the charity.

However, someone phoned police thinking they were doing the opposite.

“Unfortunately, instead of asking what was happening as we were repairing a bin, someone decided to immediately call the cops… and our team, two 60+ year-old-people) ended up in handcuffs for servicing a donation bin,” Unique Thrifting wrote. “Next time you see us out there, maybe start with a conversation before the cuffs. We’re proud of the work we do supporting Diabetes Canada, even if sometimes it’s mistaken for a crime scene.”

Image: Joyce Tetreau / Joyce Tetreau says damage to Diabetes Canada bins in Chilliwack, like this one, has been happening lately.

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The person who called in what she thought was an act of vandalism in progress said the door to the Diabetes Canada collection bin was completely off, and a nearby van contained substantial garbage, leading her to believe the two were stealing from it.

“I’m the one who called it in. They had the whole door off and a van full of garbage and looked like they were stealing from it. So sorry for trying to protect your donations,” Georgia Seal wrote on Facebook.

In response, Joyce Tetreau wrote on Facebook, “Door was vandalized and ripped open from the hinge side and all donations were stolen. This same thing happened to another Diabetes donation bin over off of Vedder, door ripped off in the exact same manner and all donations stolen. This type of thing has happened before.”

In situations like this where people are attending to collection bins, Tetreau urged people to better assess the situation by asking questions rather than just calling police.

“Well, in addition to finding the door ripped off, I had a lovely lady stop and take our pictures while jimmy rigging and pounding on the door to shove it on,” Tetreau said. “When approached to engage in conversation, she sped away. Imagine my surprise when I got pulled over by the RCMP and detained in handcuffs, just because you thought you knew what was going on. Hope your day started like you managed to make mine. Perhaps next time before reporting something you have no idea about, just stop and think!”

While expressing an apology, Seal also asked why Tetreau didn’t have a magnet on her van to indicate to the public their donation efforts were legitimate.

“Won’t be putting signs on the side of my vehicle anytime soon because not only do people not read before they act but they tend to see what they want to see,” Tetreau said. “Nothing like this has ever happened to us in the last 6 years and we can do without the added expense.”