Man steals money from Girl Scout selling cookies in NorCal, police say

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- A man in the South Bay is jailed on $50,000 bond for one of the meanest, most thoughtless crimes you can think of --- robbing Girl Scouts out selling cookies.

For many people, $600 is a lot of money, but it's an especially large amount of money for some young Girl Scouts. But in the end, San Jose police earned their merit badge on Sunday.

It wasn't the Thin Mints or Do-Si-Dos that attracted a thief to a Safeway on Branham Lane in San Jose, but rather it was fundraiser money for the local Girl Scout troop.

Police say 23-year-old Cody Gintz forcibly took a cash box from a 10-year-old Girl Scout who was selling cookies and took off.

"I mean, it's unbelievable," said San Jose resident Cory Riley. "I can't imagine how somebody could do that to kids. They're out here. They're working hard. You know, doing it for a good cause. Yeah, that's just unbelievable."

Fellow San Jose resident Lisa Foy added, "That's pretty low to take something from such a sweet group of people. Especially children."

But this cookie caper did not end on a sour note. A witness gave police the suspect's license plate, and officers found the car nearby.

Gintz was arrested on suspicion of strong-arm robbery and remains in Santa Clara County Jail on $50,000 bail.

All the money was found and returned to the Girl Scouts.

And just to sweeten this story -- San Jose police officers and dispatchers not only pooled together $300 to buy the remaining cookies, but they also donated the extra $60 to the Girl Scout organization.

Gintz is expected to make his first court appearance on Wednesday.