Florida: Man Steals Cash From 12-Year-Old Selling Girl Scout Cookies, Similar Incident Reported From Colorado
Police are on the lookout for a man who allegedly stole money from a 12-year-old girl selling Girl Scout cookies outside a Walmart in Central Florida. According to a report by the Orlando Sentinel, the incident happened on Sunday afternoon when a man approached the girl selling the cookies, grabbed a box containing the money she had collected, and ran away into the parking lot. The unidentified man then got into a getaway car, reported to be a Hyundai Santa Fe. According to eyewitnesses, the getaway car used by the suspect had a North Carolina license plate. The incident happened at around 3:42 p.m., on Sunday.
While the incident itself was not caught on surveillance video, senior police officials have managed to capture the footage of the suspect while he was in the vicinity. Volusia sheriff’s spokesman Andrew Gant, who is investigating the incident, said that the Hyundai Santa Fe used as a getaway vehicle was gray in color and was one of the newer models. He also added that the suspect was accompanied by a woman and a small child.
While getting away from the crime scene, the suspect was seated as a passenger in the vehicle, Mr. Gant added.
In a Facebook post on the official page of the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, they described the incident as follows.
“Volusia County sheriff’s investigators are looking for a man who stole a money box from a 12-year-old girl selling Girl Scout cookies Sunday outside a Deltona Wal-Mart. The theft happened Sunday afternoon outside the Wal-Mart at 101 Howland Blvd. At 3:42 p.m., a white or Hispanic male approached the girl’s table outside the store, grabbed the money box and ran into the parking lot. The suspect climbed into the passenger side of a newer-model gray Hyundai Santa Fe. Witnesses said they believed the vehicle had a North Carolina tag. Surveillance footage showed the suspect approaching the store with a white female wearing a pink jacket and walking with a small child. The group walked back to their vehicle for several minutes, after which the male suspect returned to steal the money.”
They have also tweeted images of the suspect.
Stealing from a kid selling Girl Scout cookies? Doesn’t get much lower. Help us ID & locate: https://t.co/RC0DLa64G6 pic.twitter.com/3An47P2AD2
— Volusia Co. Sheriff (@VolusiaSheriff) February 29, 2016
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 386-860-7030 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-277-TIPS (8477).
In related news, an incident of similar nature was also reported from Aurora, Colorado, where an unidentified man stole money from a group of girls selling Girl Scout cookies. Following the incident, officials from the Aurora Police Department said they have pooled resources in order to help recover the stolen money. They have also helped the girls recoup their loss by pooling in money and increasing purchases. Several people also came forward and donated money to the girls as well, WGRZ News reports.
The troop leader of the affected later thanked officials from the Aurora Police Department for their help. She wrote as follows.
“Thank you guys for supporting our troop after what we dealt with tonight. Our booth money was stolen. Aurora PD is the best. You guys brought tears to this troop leader’s eyes.”
The suspects in both the incidents have not been caught yet. The suspect in the Aurora incident has been described as a black man who is between 17- to 20-years-old. He was wearing a black and white bandana, black hoodie, and black pants.
If you have any details regarding this person, contact dispatch at (303) 627-3100.
[Image via Aurora Police Department/Facebook]
