SANDPOINT — A group that gives generously to the community is hoping it will receive back a decorative planter that a thief callously stole last month.

The painted planter was stolen from The Cove Thrift Shop at 521 Church St. in early April.

Volunteers at The Cove don’t want to see anybody punished for the theft.

“We just want them to bring it back,” said Lynn Billingsley.

The metal planter is painted red with yellow flowers and green foliage. It is about 4 feet in diameter. It was painted by a Cove volunteer who also volunteers with other nonprofit groups in the community.

The thief dumped the dirt where the planter stood.

It’s hoped that word of the theft will spread and somebody will spot the purloined planter.

“We just wanted it to be out there in case somebody sees it somebody else’s house,” said Billingsley.

The theft comes as The Cove is expanding and the planter was meant to spruce up the entrance to the thrift shop.

“We’re all volunteers and we give back to the community every cent,” said Billingsley, pointing out that the group recently donated $500 to Meals on Wheels for seniors.

The planter is not a high-cost item, although volunteers at The Cove are disturbed by the theft simply out of principle.

“We just thought it was the wrong thing to do,” Billingsley said.