A Bedford businesswoman says thieves posing as customers stole her donation jar right from the store counter during business hours.
Darlene Thomas has owned Cats Unlimited for eight years and sells collectibles, cat toys, supplies, plus grooming and boarding services.
She also collects donations for DFW Purebred Cat Rescue and to help pay the veterinary bills of the cats she adopts out.
On Thursday, Thomas called police after someone stole the donation jar while no one was looking.
She suspects it was a woman who was with a young girl, possibly her daughter, about 12 or 13 years old.
"They were talking about the kittens and how cute they were and looking at the toys. I went to the back to start grooming. The other girl who works here just went into the other room next door, and just that quickly, she came back and they were gone, and the jar were gone. This big, giant five-gallon water jar with all this change and money was just gone out the door and they were gone," said Thomas.
The donation jar likely contained about $100, but Thomas was more concerned that someone would commit such a crime in front of a minor.
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"It was sad about the money but it was even sadder that this is what she's taught her little girl that it's ok to do," said Thomas.
Thomas plans to add security cameras to prevent future crime.
