Man steals Baldwin Girl Scout’s collection jar

Kaitlyn Llompart, a 7-year-old from Baldwin and a brownie in Girl Scout Troop 2325, wanted to do something nice for military personnel serving overseas.

Since the Girl Scouts organize a program called "Operation Cookie," which collects donations for cookies to be shipped to current military personnel, Kaitlyn began making signs and collecting money in a large jar to donate to the cause last month.

But on March 10, with the collection jar on the counter of her parents’ — Rob and Kim — business, the jar was stolen. According to Kim, a man entered their shop, King Bear Auto Service in Lindenhurst, saying he needed work on his vehicle. When Rob stepped away to assist another customer, Kim said, the man took the jar with $108 inside and walked out of the store. The family filed a police report and has video surveillance of the incident.

Kim said she was extremely disappointed when she heard the news that someone stole a jar clearly marked as Girl Scout project to be donated to the military. “These are men and women who risk their lives for all of us,” Kim said. “The money can be replaced, but the trust in people can not.”

According to Kim, Kaitlyn, a second grader at St. Christopher School, was upset after finding out about the theft. But she didn’t let it get her down and quickly started a new donation jar. Since military personnel serving overseas leave their homes for months and years at a time, sending them some Girl Scout cookies can make them feel that home isn’t so far away. “That become our theme,” Kim said, “’giving the military a taste of home.’"

If you would like to contribute to Kaitlyn’s efforts, checks can be made out to the Girl Scouts of Nassau County and sent to Girl Scout Troop 2325, 21 W. Sunrise Hwy., Lindenhurst, NY 11757.