A boy in California had to learn a hard lesson after his lemonade stand was robbed in broad daylight.
Liam, 11, had briefly wandered away from his post in Ramona, California, to get more supplies when a thief made a ruthless move.
A man in a pickup truck pulled up next to the stand, tore down Liam’s sign, then threw the tables and chairs into the back of the truck and drove away.
Liam ran back to his post, but it was too late. He just watched as the truck, with his post, drove away.
Liam, 11, had run a lemonade stand for more than a year near his home in Ramona, California, before the stand was stolen.
The thief drove by in his car, reversed, stopped next to the stand and began loading the table and chairs into the back of his truck.
Liam had gone to get more supplies before running back to find his stand gone, and he watched as the truck drove away with the table and chairs in the back.
You know, I think Liam definitely learned a hard lesson that day when it came to leaving his things unattended,’ said Liam’s mother, Kery Rader.
The boy set up the stand in hopes of raising money to buy himself a dirt bike, but wondered, “How can people be so cruel?” after selling at that intersection for more than a year.
His mother, Kery Rader, said she hoped it was a misunderstanding, but it was a difficult lesson for Liam to learn.
“This seems a little more intentional, and that’s unfortunate. You know, I think Liam definitely learned a hard lesson that day when it comes to leaving his stuff unattended,” she said. KFMB.
However, the community began to rally around Liam, and after hearing what had happened, they asked how they could help the young man.
Her mother said: ‘The community started coming in and saying, ‘Hey, can we replace the table, the chairs? Can we donate for your booth?’
Liam was donated a new lemonade stand and community members surprised him with a dirt bike.
The community came together to help the boy who was saving money to buy a dirt bike.
They gifted him a new lemonade stand and a new dirt bike after the community asked what they could do to help.
A free event, where Liam worked on his new lemonade stand for the community that offered him help, received donations that Liam intends to donate to an animal sanctuary.
They also gathered for a free event in support of Liam’s new stand, donating money to the business which Liam plans to donate to an animal sanctuary.
“Because I love animals, I feel like every animal deserves a chance,” she told KFMB.
The outlet reported that there are currently no updates on whether the suspect has been captured.