ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — A woman raising money for children with cancer said someone stole a donation jar full of money in St. Louis County Saturday afternoon.
In a Facebook video, Emily Dyall said she was at a Walgreens in Creve Coeur collecting donations for her nonprofit — the Bennett Project — Saturday. She said a car pulled up near the donation table when someone jumped out and stole their donation jar.
"There was no gun, there was no threat," she said. "I think he said 'got it' or something and ran and they peeled off back on to Olive."
Dyall said a man was standing nearby when the jar was stolen and helped get information about the car to provide to police.
Dyall said he helped out in another way.
"He came back with $100, and then someone else was like, 'Were you just robbed?' and came back a few minutes later with $200," she said. "So I'm really grateful and just really scared."
Creve Coeur police said a black Jeep Cherokee with Missouri license plates, EB1F7W, drove through the parking lot and stopped near the donation table.
A tall man with a thin build and brown hair got out of the car from the passenger side, ran up to the table and took the donation jar. He got back into the car and it fled the area.
Police said the car was occupied by multiple people.
Dyall started the Bennett Project to honor her brother.
“He was diagnosed with colon cancer at the age of 9. Spring of 2003 he was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and then he passed away at the age of 10,” Dyall said in an interview with 5 On Your Side earlier this week.
She said she has collected donations like she was on Saturday, but never had anything like this happen.
If you would like to help the Bennett Project, they are collecting toys From now through Dec. 15. The toys will be delivered to Mercy, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.
For more information, visit the Bennett Project website.
Anyone with information about this incident should contact the Creve Coeur Police Department at 314-737-4600. Any updates on this case will be posted on the department’s Facebook or Twitter.
