Acourt case in Lethbridge recently brought to light an underlying problem associated with thefts from non-profits organizations.
This is not an isolated incident, in fact a couple of cases have reached court in the past few months features similar issues involving the misuse of funds. As long as there have been organizations that rely on one person to balance their books and handle their finances there has been the potential for theft.
It’s not to say it’s any different for businesses but there are often more checks and balances in the business sector than there are in the not-for-profit sector.
Most non-profit organizations rely on volunteer labour, fundraisers and donations. Often the only full-time staff member, the person handling the finances and the bookkeeping, is the only one who knows all the ins and outs of the organization’s finances.
This position is one of extreme trust and therefore has the potential to be abused and remain undetected as long as no one starts digging deeper and asking the right questions.
No community or organization for that matter is immune from the potential for theft, it can happen anywhere.
One of the major problems with cracking down on this type of theft is the fact community-based organizations are often too willing to let a staff member go rather than have them brought up on charges.
The organization doesn’t want to generate negative attention for their program particularly if they rely on volunteers and donations. All too often they try to sweep the issue under the rug, fire the employee and move on.
Unfortunately this only makes it easier for the person to do the same thing again to another organization.
Organizations, often fearing legal action, have even provided references which lead to another organization taking on the staff member and trusting them even though they have already proven to be untrustworthy.
There have been cases come to court in the last few years where the person found guilty of theft from a non-profit organization was known to have left other such organizations under “suspicious circumstances”.
Non-profit organizations are not the only ones who fall into this category, of wanting to avoid negative attention.
Businesses often follow the same route, choosing to fire an employee because they stole from the business but without reporting the incidents to the police.
Once again this only sets up the next business to be victimized when they hire a person they didn’t know was previous suspected or caught stealing.
No one can blame a small business owner who just wants to put the issue to rest and move on. It’s too bad that this attitude not only allows the thief to get off free and clear but only makes it possible for them to do it again and again before someone decides to take a stand and call in the police.
It takes courage to draw negative attention to your organization or your business because you have been the victim of a crime but your silence only helps the criminal continue to rack up more victims.
In the end it only makes the previous victims, who remained silent, party to the criminal’s future unlawful activities.
The only way it will stop is if organizations and businesses refuse to be victimized and call in the police when they suspect a crime has been committed.