Robbed Cub Scout, father get help from North Texans

A North Texas car dealership emailed that it wanted to help. An area plumbing company called to donate. And a Keller grocery store gave a $300 cash gift card.

After news broke that a thief had stolen a Cub Scout’s money box and his father’s truck in Keller last weekend, North Texans showed their kindness with an outpouring of support and donations.

Cub Scout leader Matt Barnes said Thursday they had received more than $3,000 in donations, but his truck is still missing.

“It’s incredible,” Barnes said Thursday. “It’s just been overwhelming.”

With the help of North Texans, Barnes said, the $600 stolen has been covered.

Barnes’ 7-year-old son, Westin, and another Cub Scout, had raised the money Saturday for summer camp, selling Camp Cards at $5 apiece from 9 a.m. until noon Saturday.

Barnes said his sister got the support started by creating a gofund.me account and as of Thursday residents had donated more than $3,000.

Barnes said the extra money will go to Cub Scout Pack 88 for camping gear, cooking supplies and other Cub Scout items. They will go to a Texas summer camp this year.i

At one point this week, Barnes said he received a $300 cash gift card from the Kroger in Keller where the Cub Scouts set up their fundraiser on Saturday.

Barnes said he still has hope that his truck will be recovered.

The theft occurred near Kroger in the 900 block of Keller Parkway in Keller on Saturday.

Barnes has said that his son and another Cub Scout had finished for the day, and everyone was packing. He put a black money box inside his Chevrolet Silverado and parked the truck near the store.

Then he left the diesel truck running and walked near the store to retrieve tables. He briefly talked to a Cub Scout mother, and when he turned around the truck and money were gone.

“The truck is entered as stolen so we are hoping it will be located soon,” Keller police Capt. Tracy Talkington said Wednesday in an email. “We are following up on some leads.”

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 11:56 AM with the headline "Robbed Cub Scout, father get help from North Texans."