Children turn lemons into lemonade after money jar stolen from stand in Chesapeake

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

Chesapeake Police stated the incident occurred on Aug. 14 around 11:50 a.m. in the 1000 block of Bells Mill Road.

Surveillance video from the family’s home shows a silver Toyota four-door sedan start to slowly approach the two children, then a man comes out of the car.

10-year-old Rebecca Caldwell told WAVY she started to pour him lemonade when he quickly grabbed the jar with their money and took off. The video shows this happening.

“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.”

Police described the man as a white male in his mid-30s with a goatee and tattoos.

Rebecca and her younger brother Josh 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,” said Rebecca.

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 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,” said Annetta.

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 filed a police report. Officers showed up at the scene and talked to Rebecca and Josh.

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

Seeing the video left a sour taste in people’s mouths. Several member of the community have stepped up to help.

“Somebody from my husbands work gave us $40 to replace the money they lost,” Caldwell said.

Someone else dropped $20 in their new jar, and a couple of 10 On Your Side viewers told us they would be mailing checks.

Annetta Caldwell said the community support is a great lesson for her kids, “That God can always turn things around and yea, there are always good things that can come out of bad situations.”

Rebecca and Josh are not letting a thief stop them from selling more lemonade. They will hold another lemonade stand next Saturday, Aug. 24, on Bells Mill Road from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

Continue to check WAVY.com for updates .

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