Girl Scout Troop Selling Cookies Robbed in Des Moines
On Saturday, Girl Scouts in Des Moines learned an ugly lesson while selling cookies outside of a Hy-Vee.
Girl Scouts Troop 709 from Carlisle was set up in front of the Hy-Vee on Army Post Road selling cookies on Saturday. According to police reports, just before 11:00 a.m., a 14 or 15-year-old boy snatched the troop's donation box and ran. He was apparently acting like he was going to buy cookies.
The donation box contained $200, but it was tips or donations, not necessarily cookie payments.
“It made me disappointed that people would do that, but also made me wonder why he did it," Girl Scout Abby told WHO13.
The girls were hoping to use that money to help others. “We think we were going to give it to some people who have to go in and out of cars to do covid tests,” Abby told the station.
Surveillance cameras showed the suspect fleeing towards Target and nearby apartments. The theft shook the girls and Troop leader Peggy Hugen said “I kind of wanted to turn into mamma bear.”
“They learned in their business there is loss. There are bad things that happen, and you have to roll with it," Hugen told WHO13.
Hy-Vee is donating $200 to the troop.
“The majority of people are good people, and one bad thing that happened can’t just affect my whole place in Girl Scouts," Girl Scout Marah said.
The teen suspect was seen on Saturday wearing a red hoodie, black mask, and camouflage green backpack. If you want to support Troop 709, they will be selling cookies at the Southridge Hy-Vee this Friday night from 4:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.