Kids turn lemons into lemonade after money jar stolen from stand

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — A sweet day turned sour for two Chesapeake, Virginia , siblings selling lemonade after their money jar was stolen .

In surveillance video, a car starts to slowly approach the two children and a man comes out of the car. Rebecca Caldwell, a 10-year-old, told NewsNation affiliate WAVY she started to pour him lemonade when he quickly grabbed the jar with their money and took off.

“We already got $40. It seemed pretty good, and then the guy came,” Rebecca said. “He acted really nice. He was just saying, like, ‘Nice, y’all are doing a lemonade stand.’ And then he was getting pretty close, but my back was turned so I didn’t really realize.”

Rebecca and her younger brother Josh Caldwell ran inside and told their mom they had been robbed.

“I just wanted to find out who would do that, because they’re just innocent kids out here, you know, having lemonade stands,” said Annetta Caldwell, Rebecca and Josh’s mother.

The two have held lemonade stands and bake sales outside their house in the past. They thought this time would be no different.

“It was like a hot summer day, so I thought it would be nice for people to have lemonade,” Rebecca said.

Their dad, Ryan Caldwell, said it’s become a lesson about forgiveness rather than loss.

“I don’t think it’s really even about the money,” Ryan Caldwell said. “They just like doing it and being out here and seeing people. We don’t want that stolen away from them, you know, we want the fun, the innocence, to remain. So, that’s probably the worst part — the stolen innocence involved.”

Rebecca and Josh wanted to raise money for their older sister and hopefully any extra money to go toward a dirt bike and a four-wheeler.

The Caldwells realized they may not get the $40 back, but they do want to find a solution or get a chance to speak to the thief.

“I don’t know if we should talk to him, part of me wants some answers,” Annetta Caldwell said.

Rebecca also said forgiveness is key.

“We want him to become a Christian and have a good life, but we would say not go to jail, more community service, stuff like that,” she said.

Their parents did mention they filed a police report. They showed up at the scene and talked to Rebecca and Josh. WAVY reached out to the Chesapeake Police Department for confirmation, but have not heard back.

“They’ve had a lot of follow-up with us,” Ryan Caldwell said. “They’ve been communicating well and stuff. So, they’re very interested in helping and seeing this resolve.”

Rebecca and Josh are not letting a thief stop them from selling more lemonade. They will hold another lemonade stand Saturday on Bells Mill Road from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

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