Girl Scout robbed of cookie money

by Roger Sinasohn (Subscribe to Roger Sinasohn's posts) Jan 16th 2008 10:32AM

Would you let your ten-year-old daughter go out alone to sell Girl Scout cookies? Neither would Chris Grant, but his daughter did it anyway. Nicole Grant went out with a friend to sell cookies and was stopped by a twelve-year-old girl. The other girl filled out an order form for cookies, then grabbed Nicole's money bag and took off on her bicycle.

Of course, a seasoned criminal would know better than to fill out an order form with her real name; the suspect in this case, however, didn't. The police easily tracked her down and Nicole identified her as the thief. "She's still a little shook up, but she's fine," said Nicole's dad. He also said that she was back in school the next day.

The Girl Scouts' official policy is that girls between the ages of six and eleven must be accompanied by an adult when selling cookies. Chris Grant said he didn't realize Nicole had taken the cash and gone out on her own. "But you learn from your mistakes," he said. "And she understands that now."

Luckily, the thief in this case was just another pre-teen and no one was hurt. It is, however, a good reminder to make sure kids aren't out and about on their own, sad as that might be.

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Comments (94)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)

KIM 2-04-2008 @ 4:27PM

AS A LEADER IN GS I CAN TELL THAT MONEY CAN BE TAKEN WHEN THE ORDER IS PLACED. IF THE GIRLS WERE OUTSIDE OF A STORE THAT MEANS
THEY WERE HAVING A COOKIE BOOTH SO THEY WOULD HAVE THE COOKIES WITH THEM SO THEM WOULD BE COLLETING MONEY. THE SAME GOES THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE AN ADULT WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES. ITS BECAUSE OF THE KIND OF PERSON THE GIRL THAT TOOK THE MONEY THAT US LEADER AND PARENTS DON'T LIKE COOKIE BOOTHES.

redrosedancer063 2-04-2008 @ 4:33PM

I'm a girl scout, and from when I was little, I always knew to not go out selling unless an adult was with or watching. As far as the money issue goes, there's no actual rule stating that you can't collect money upon ordering, but I think it's a good idea to wait, only because I've been known to lose things...=] It's a shame that a 12 year old girl would think that it was okay to rob a Girl Scout. I mean come on. People don't get any more innocent than a Girl Scout, right?

interested 2-04-2008 @ 5:57PM

It's a sad day when someone stoops to robbing girl scouts. What is wrong with people. Are people that desperate?

Rose 2-04-2008 @ 7:08PM

What are you people thinking??? The little snotty witch should be the one you pick on, and her parents too! She just wanted the money so she took it. Her parents should have their butts thrown in jail for child neglect. They never have taught her any rules of proper behavior or how to behave like a good citizen. If everyone acted like her there would be utter disasted in our country, more than there is now. Please teach the children values, most of all about life.

Andi 1-17-2008 @ 6:20AM

God, I remember when I was a kid and it was safe to be all over the place on my bike, playing in the woods with my friends and that kinda stuff. So much for that, you can't even send kids outside to blow off their steam anymore without them getting snatched.

NACritters4 1-17-2008 @ 7:18AM

Ok, as a leader in my ninth year, there are several things wrong with this picture. First, as per the cookie training and safety pin the girls should earn for that age grouping the leader goes over the safety warning including don't go w/o a guardian over 18 yrs. Second, the girls are not allowed to handle money. Third, you don't collect money until you deliver. Fourth, dad, didn't you sign w/ your driver's license on the permission form agreeing to 1-3?

Katrina 1-17-2008 @ 8:47AM

I was a Brownie Troop Leader back in the early eighties and you just can't trust ANYONE! One of my co-leaders had stolen the cookie money from one of the mothers that had volunteered her time and home for the sale and distribution of the cookies!! I think they should do background checks and drug testing on the Troop leaders. They should also have a few references! What is the world coming to????

SADIE 1-17-2008 @ 12:53PM

I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS TOO, I WAS GONE UNTIL THE STREET LIGHTS WENT OUT AND PLAYING IN THE WOODS TOO. NOW I HAVE 5 KIDS AND WHEN THEY WANT TO GO OUTSIDE TO PLAY I HAVE TO GO OUT WITH THEM EVEN IN MY BACK YARD. WHAT HAS THIS WORLD TURNED INTO, GRANTED THERE WERE KIDNAPPINGS BACK THEN AND HORRIBLE CRIMES BUT NOT LIKE TODAY. THESE KIDS TODAY ARE RUDE TOWARDS ADULTS AND IF I WERE TO EVER BACK TALK AN ADULT I WOULD GET THAT SPANKING AND MY PARENTS DIDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT CHILD SERVICES COMING TO THE HOUSE. I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE IN GIRLSCOUTS BUT I ALWAYS HAD OTHER SPORTS I WAS IN SO MY PARENTS SAID NO.

Ray Crowell 1-17-2008 @ 6:39AM

I think the thief should be forced to eat cookies until she pukes from them.

Carol Ross 1-17-2008 @ 11:13AM

The only thing they will probably do is tell the brat she shouldn't have done it. I agree with you!

Robert 1-17-2008 @ 2:42PM

As a boy I was riding my bike all over Northport, Long Island with a pocket full of cash from my newspaper route collection and never gave a thought to being robbed. Of course that was 1955 and this WAS a gentler and kinder nation. What happened to the United States? We may be a world leader in technology and imagined prosperity but we have lost our moral base and are far poorer for it.

Kate 1-17-2008 @ 7:24AM

NAC is right! I just ordered...ORDERED...4 boxes and was told I did not pay until they're delivered. So, yes, that story about theft is not typical...doesn't pass the smell test, as they say.
ORDER YOUR COOKIES NOW....HELP THE GIRLS SCOUTS OF AMERICA!

gsaintl 1-17-2008 @ 8:32AM

It's GSUSA, Girl Scouts of the United States of America!!

VLynn 1-17-2008 @ 11:26AM

Well as a mother of a daughter selling GS Cookies. You can collect the money now OR later. Some choose to pay now because they know they have the money now & might not when the cookies come in. Technically it isn't due til the cookies are delivered. I just put the money or check in the envelope and it stays at home at all times.

But in all honesty, that girl shouldn't be out alone selling. The world is not like it used to be. My daughter only sells to close neighbors (we know all our neighbors), friends, & family.

Carolyn 1-17-2008 @ 7:26AM

Well I'm glad to hear that the little girl wasn't hurt during the robbery and that they caught the thief. As I recall though when you sell Girl Scout cookies it's Girl Scout policy NOT to collect any money until the cookie order comes in and the cookies are delivered to the customer. This Girl Scout was only taking orders and shouldn't of had any cookie money on her. My daughter was a Girl Scout when she was little and selling the cookies was a fun for both her and I. We used to go out to sell the cookies together even though we lived on a secure naval base because you never know what could happen. I guess when people read what happened they will hopefully be more careful.

Nancy 1-17-2008 @ 7:33AM

NACritters - I remember as a kid going out completely solo - and not because I had permission. There are still some neighborhoods where kids feel safe enough to go to their neighbor/friends house not thinking anything of it. My mom was livid when she found out what I did...

Savol 1-17-2008 @ 7:50AM

As a current GS leader, I stressed how important it is to have an adult along when you sell. In this part of the country, we are required to collect the money when the customer orders the cookies. This is because people would order them and on delivery, they would not pay the girls.

susan 1-17-2008 @ 7:59AM

As a former leader, troop cookie Mom and eater of GS cookies. You are only to accept money at delivery of the cookies..No money is needed to pick up your cookie order for delivery. So as to why she was taking money now is unclear.

Marie 1-17-2008 @ 8:00AM

THIS "THIEF" SHOULD BE SENT TO JAIL WITH ADULT WOMEN, MAYBE THEN SHE WILL THINK TWICE BEFORE ROBBING A GIRL SCOUT!!!!

Terry 1-17-2008 @ 2:24PM

For those of you who are not quite familiar with the girl schout organization not everybody does cookies at the same time of the year, there are only two bakers to cover all of the scouts worldwide so cookie sales are spreadout over the year. Also as previously you do not pay until you are handed that box of cookies and the article doesn't really clarify if she was actually taking money for preorders or attempting to sell off some extra boxes because when troops order cookies they have to order by the case which there are 12 boxes per case.