Girl Scout Robbed; Advice for Parents

Girl Scout Cookies.  They're trademark treats lots of us look forward to eating each year.

Selling them - a tradition.

"Girls are learning how to manage money, how to keep promises, how to schedule their time, so it's an important tool, and it's also a lot of fun," explains Girl Scout Council of Savannah's Susan Reefer.  

But the fun, turning into tears for one Junior Scout.  Her cookie money - taken near the intersection of Harmon and Rockefeller Streets Sunday during a sale.  Police reports show the 10 year old was approached by another girl on a bike who wanted to buy some cookies. Instead of paying, the suspect snatched the bag of cash. Before the theft, she did leave her name, and address on the order sheet.

 

"I guess about half hour, 45 minutes, she came back and said somebody had taken her money!  I had to calm her down, and she was so afraid that the money was gone," explains the little girl's father.      

He doesn't want to be identified, to protect his daughter.  They called police.

Savannah-Chatham Metro Officers used the order form to track down the cookie culprit - a 12 year old girl.  Less than 50-dollars was swiped, but with the theft, this father says came a priceless lesson:

 

"I didn't know she had the money bag with her when she went outside.  If I had known, I would have told her to leave it inside the house."

From now on, he tells NEWS 3 he will accompany his daughter selling cookies - something Girl Scout leaders say is already part of their safety standards.

"The most important thing that we emphasize is that the girls, who are Brownies, that's the 6 to 8 year olds, and the Junior Scouts, the 8 to 11 year olds, must be accompanied by an adult at all times.  When they are selling cookies, when they are working a booth, when they are delivering cookies.  It's so important that the girls are having a fun and a rewarding and educational time, but mostly, that they're safe," adds Reefer. 

Police took the pre-teen accused of stealing that money to the Savannah Regional Youth Detention Center. 

Girl Scout leaders are reminding parents and Scouts of other safety rules. 

In addition to adult supervision, Scouts should only sell during daylight hours.   

Never enter the home of a customer, and have a plan for safeguarding money!

Avoid walking around with large amounts of cash, and give cookie proceeds to supervising adults.