Man steals money from Girl Scout cookie sale at N.Ky. Kroger

ERLANGER, Ky. - A man stole money collected from a Girl Scouts of America cookie sale held at a Kroger in Erlanger, Ky., Saturday afternoon.

According to the Erlanger Police Department, the male suspect followed the female victim who had been selling cookies in front of the Kroger located at 3158 Dixie Highway to her car around 2 p.m. He then opened the passenger door, picked up a purse that was placed on the seat and fled with the purse.

A Kroger employee heard the female victim yelling and pursued the male suspect who responded by throwing the purse at the pursuer. Police say the suspect removed the money from the cookie sales before throwing the purse.

Officers tracked the suspect to a business across the street from the Kroger and located his discarded hooded sweatshirt and other items, but not the money.

While no one was injured during the incident, many people were hurt, namely the Girl Scouts who will lose out on the field trips, troop meetings and other events the money from the sales would have gone toward.

While she is not a member of the troop affected by the crime, 11-year-old Destiny Webster doesn't understand why anyone would want to take money from the Girl Scouts.

"They’re giving them good cookies, why would they want to take everything they have? They’re not trying to be mean to you," Destiny said Sunday during a cookie sale at the same Kroger location.

Destiny and her grandmother believe the thief had to have made off with hundreds of dollars. Destiny's grandmother, Thelma Webster is also her troop leader.

While Destiny has never had any issues with people during her three years as a Girl Scout, she plans to be extra careful with the money she collects from cookie sales.

"I keep it by me and I told my grandma, it's kind of funny, I say 'if anybody comes towards me, I can use my karate on them,'" said Destiny.

Police say the male suspect is possibly Hispanic, 6 feet tall, weighs around 160 pounds and was wearing a hooded sweatshirt pulled over his head and surgical mask over his face at the time of the incident.

The woman who was wandering the store with the suspect was possibly waiting in a car for the suspect, according to police. They say it’s also possible the suspect and/or the woman live in the area near the Kroger.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Erlanger Police Department at 859-727-2424 or Crime Stoppers at 513-352-3040.

9 On Your Side reporter Amy Wadas contributed to this report.