A recent case involving stolen money from the Washington Heights Fire Company in the Town of Wallkill is prompting the Orange County district attorney to issue a warning to nonprofits about safeguarding funds.

District Attorney David Hoovler says the case is like others, involving volunteer-based groups that his office has prosecuted.

Hoovler says nonprofits should make sure people with access to its finances are properly overseen to avoid thefts. He recommends having two people sign checks, have three people routinely verify expenditures and monthly reviews by members who don’t handle finances for the group.

“Once the damage is done, it’s very hard for the nonprofits to recover from a lot of things because the defendants in these cases, they’re obviously taking it because they don’t have the money,” says Hoovler. “Getting repayment could take months or years.”

More information about ways nonprofits can safeguard funds can be found by visiting the National Council of Nonprofits’ website.