Girl Scout robbed of cookie money
Categories: Teens & tweens, Health & safety
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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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
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.
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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.
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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!
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!
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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!!!!
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kathe 1-17-2008 @ 8:16AM
as a leader for my younger daughter. I go over the rules a bunch of times.
So everyone is safe. I have been out in very cold and snowing weather getting preorders. Just today at a high of 11 we went door to door and we never went in to get warm.
So please when a girl comes knocking please order and buy the cookies.
Girl Scouts are #1
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Rebecca 1-17-2008 @ 8:26AM
Where I live, there are girls selling cookies all the time at our local Walmart. They set up tables right outside the doors and you have several kinds to choose from. If they don't have the one/ones you want, they give you a form to fill out to order them. I think it's a shame that kids are being targeted by thieves these days. Back before Christmas, there were some boyscouts who were selling Christmas trees in Ohio and were robbed by 2 or 3 guys. One of the boys were hit in the face or head with a gun. Too many sleeze bags in this world. Didn't have to worry about this crap when I was a kid. These days, it's not even safe to tell your child to find a police officer if they should happen to get lost.
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oshen 1-17-2008 @ 8:30AM
My kid is selling them too. Our leaders advise our kids to only sell to people they know. Once again, you don't get money until they are delivered.
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redwolfsBIGsister 1-17-2008 @ 8:31AM
I would work my butt off looking for that woman and beat her to death with the cookies!! lol My friend is a GS leader that has 13 and 14 yr. old girls that she does not want them selling cookies without an adult. I heard that the girls are not to sell cookies until the 19th after "Cookie Crunch Off" or they can get in BIG trouble. I believe it was Susan that said no money is to be taken until the cookies are delivered, she is correct.
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Me 1-17-2008 @ 8:36AM
Come on now. As a former Girl Scout and a current leader for years (including "cookie mom") there is no rule that states you cannot take money upon order. If someone wants to pay upon ordering that is wonderful and certianly accepted.
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Dee 1-17-2008 @ 9:30AM
My daughter is a gs and I go with her of course to sell the cookies or my sister takes the slip to her job and gets her lots of orders. Our troop has us collect the money first, never heard of getting the order and paying when the cookies arrive. The customers would rather us have the cookies on hand and buy them from us right off the bat but they dont do that here either. I agree with Ray Crowell that the theif should have to eat cookies til she pukes!