Man caught on video stealing lemonade-stand money from Virginia 10-year-old siblings

A brother and sister from southeast Virginia recently experienced a sour day after police said a thief snatched their money jar while the siblings sold lemonade.

The suspect was caught on camera last week stealing the children's entire day's profit outside their home in Chesapeake, a city about 20 miles southeast of Virginia Beach.

Chesapeake Police Department Officer Leo C. Kosinsk, whose agency is investigating the case, told USA TODAY the theft took place just before noon on Aug. 14. Before the theft, Kosinski confirmed, a silver Toyota four-door sedan pulled up near the stand and the suspect got out of the vehicle.

Footage shows the suspect casually walk up to the stand and quickly snatch the money jar.

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'My back was turned so I didn't realize'

Rebecca Caldwell, who is 10, told WAVY-TV, she and her brother, Josh, were manning their stand when the suspect grabbed the jar with their cash as she started to pour him a glass of lemonade.

“We already got $40. It seemed pretty good, and then the guy came,” the girl told the outlet. "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 said the children's parents, Annetta and Josh Caldwell. filed a report after the man stole money from their young entrepreneurs.

Description of lemonade stand money jar thief

Police described the suspect as a white man, in his 30s, with with a goatee and tattoos.

Video shows him wearing a hat, a gray T-shirt, a pair of blue or gray shorts and white tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact police at 757-382-6161.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.