A California boy learned a hard lesson after his lemonade stand was stolen in broad daylight.
Liam, 11, had stepped away from his stall in Ramona, California, to get more supplies when the thief made a heartless move.
A man in a pickup truck pulled up next to the stand, threw away Liam’s sign, threw the tables and chairs into the back of the truck, and drove away.
Liam ran back to his stand, but it was too late. He just watched as the truck, with his stand, drove away.
Liam, 11, ran a lemonade stand near his Ramona, California, home for more than a year before his stand was stolen
The thief drove by, backed up, 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 but ran back to find his stall gone. 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 about leaving his stuff unattended,” said Liam’s mother, Kery Rader
The boy set up the stall hoping to raise money for 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 that this was a hard lesson for Liam.
“This seems a little bit more intentional, which is unfortunate. You know, I think Liam definitely learned a hard lesson that day about leaving his stuff unattended,” she said. KFMB.
However, the community began to rally around Liam. When they heard what had happened, they asked how they could help the boy.
His mother said, “The community came out and asked, ‘Can we replace the table and chairs, can we donate money to his stall?’”
Liam was gifted a new lemonade stand and surprised with a dirt bike by community members.
The community came together to help the boy who was saving money to buy a dirt bike
He was gifted a new lemonade stand and a new dirt bike after the community asked what they could do to help
A free event, where Liam ran his new lemonade stand for the community that helped him, received donations that Liam plans to donate to an animal shelter
They also gathered for a free event to support Liam’s new stand, donating money to the venture, which Liam plans to donate to an animal shelter.
“Because I love animals, I believe every animal deserves a chance,” he told KFMB.
According to the news agency, there is currently no information available about the arrested suspect.