Christian thrift store in Columbia robbed at gunpoint, police say
The Christian-based His House Ministries Thrift Shop was robbed by a gunman, according to police.
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is looking for the man who pointed a gun at a clerk and stole money from the store at 3708 River Drive.
On Friday at about 2 p.m., the man came into the store, tried on a hat and went to the register. When the clerk came to the counter, the man pulled a gun and stole money from the register. He ran out.
The clerk described the robber as a black male with a beard wearing a yellow vest with the P on the back.
His House Ministries has four thrift shops around Columbia and Lexington. Money raised from the shops goes to providing housing and other needs for men dealing with homelessness and alcohol addiction issues. Men housed by the organization are required to attend the ministries’ Christian-based services and work in the thrift shops.
In June 2018, His House thrift store on Meeting Street in West Columbia burned down.
Deputies ask that anyone with information about the robbery to call Crime Stoppers at 1-888-Crime-SC. A caller may remain anonymous and may receive a reward if the tip leads to an arrest.