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Money for child cancer patient stolen from Sweet Frog

Posted at 7:16 PM, May 29, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-29 19:47:59-04

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. - Surveillance video captured two people walking into a Sweet Frog yogurt shop early Saturday morning, opening the safe and leaving with cash. Some of the stolen money was raised for a child battling cancer.

For those who work at the yogurt shop on Laburnum Avenue, the theft is heartbreaking.

"It hurt my heart. I'm still choked up about it," fundraising coordinator Vesna Mitrobic said. "Kenneth Stanley and his family are looking at three years of intense chemotherapy."

For the month of May, the Sweet Frog location had been raising money for the six-year-old to help offset the costs of his treatments.

However, some of the money was stolen in the early morning hours of May 24. Store security video showed after two suspects walk up to the door.

"They came in through the front door, they had a key and they had a code to the alarm," Sweet Frog Manager Will Keck said.

Then the pair used the combination to open the safe and make off with the store’s money -- and donations to the Stanley family.

“Just the thought that someone would do that is disappointing,” said Stephanie Stanley, Kenneth's mother. “They’re raising money for my six-year-old little guy and it's just really sad someone would not only take from the store, but take from that fund as well."

Stanley said the family can definitely use the money and are grateful Sweet Frog tried to help.

"It was just awesome, it was a real blessing,” Stanley said. “It's touching someone would care enough to want to do something to bless us so much."

The theft has left many devastated.

"I just can't believe something like that would happen and to help this child with what he's going through and what the family's going through. It's just really sad,” family friend Lenora Brown said.

Donations were set to end May 31, but have been extended to June 7. That’s also when Sweet Frog will hold a fundraiser for Kenneth.

Henrico Police are investigating the theft.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers 804-780-1000.