8-Year-Old Girl Robbed While Selling Candy in San Francisco

An 8-year-old girl selling candy outside a store in San Francisco was assaulted and robbed Monday by a woman who said she needed money for a bus fare, police said.

The girl was selling candy with other children outside a store in the City's Western Addition neighborhood, near Divisadero and Eddy streets, about 1:45 p.m. Monday when the robbery took place.

Surveillance video shot by the store’s security camera shows the young victim and the suspect crossed paths minutes before the attack, according to police. The footage appears to show the girl and two of her friends inside the store holding candy and cash for a school fundraiser while the suspect tried – unsuccessfully – to buy a beer.

“The kids had the money in a clear plastic bag, so you can see all the [$1 bills] in the bag,” SFPD Officer Gordon Shyy said.

Within five minutes of the video being recorded, police say the 8-year-old was robbed outside the store.

“The suspect asked for change for the fare for a bus ride and ended up grabbing the child’s arm and twisting it until she let go of the bag of money,” Shyy said.

The woman grabbed the money and fled on a 24 Muni bus, police said.

The woman, described as being between 40 and 50 years old, was last seen wearing a black skirt and an orange shirt.

The girl was not injured in the robbery, police said.

Neighborhood residents said it’s not unusual to see kids selling fundraiser goodies on the street.

“There are a number of schools around here and the kids are always selling cookies, candy and all of us in the neighborhood try to help them out and support them because they’re great kids and there are good causes,” George Dougherty said. ”So it’s really sad that someone would take advantage of that.”

The suspect had not been found as of Tuesday afternoon, according to police. 

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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