Police Identify Suspect in Girl Scouts Cash Theft
Police in New Hampshire say they have identified a suspect after a man allegedly stole a cash box containing about $1,000 from Girl Scouts selling cookies outside a Walmart.
The theft occurred around 1:50 p.m. Wednesday in West Lebanon, a town along the Vermont border.
According to the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains, the troop member and her mother were preparing to close their booth when the incident happened.
“The Girl Scout and her mother were about to close up the booth when a man came up and then ran off with their cash box,” the organization said in a statement. “Thankfully, both were unharmed during the incident.”
Suspect Fled Into Woods
Police described the suspect as a White man wearing a white sweatshirt, blue jeans, a black hat and a black mask. After grabbing the metal cash box, he ran into the woods behind the shopping plaza.
A K-9 team was brought in to assist with tracking. Officers followed the suspect’s trail to the parking lot behind a nearby New Hampshire state liquor store.
Surveillance footage from that location showed a man running across the lot and entering a white Jeep Grand Cherokee.
The cash box was later recovered in the woods. However, police said the money was missing.
Fundraising for Final Year Trip
The Girl Scouts were selling cookies to raise money for a celebratory trip during their final year in the organization, according to the statement from the Girl Scouts of the Green and White Mountains.
The theft has prompted calls for community support to help the troop recover the funds that were taken.
Cookie sales are a major source of funding for Girl Scout activities, trips and service projects.
Suspect Identified
Authorities said tips from the public helped investigators identify a suspect who lives in Vermont.
The police chief said the suspect is currently in jail in Vermont on unrelated matters. Officers are in the process of obtaining an arrest warrant in connection with the theft.
Lebanon is located in western New Hampshire near the Vermont state line, an area where residents frequently travel between the two states.
Police have not released the suspect’s name as the investigation continues.
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