Police Seek Suspects Who Tried To Steal Tip Jar On Free Cone Day

By Edward Cardenas

ST. CLAIR SHORES (CBS Detroit) - St. Clair Shores police are seeking five females who allegedly attempted to steal a tip jar from a Dairy Queen on Free Cone Day.

According to a police report, four white females and a black female were standing in line at the ice cream shop on Harper about 5:53 p.m. Monday and were smoking.

When the owner told them that smoking was not allowed, the group become unruly, and once they got to the front window to order, one of the girls reached in and stole the tip jar which had about $30.

Liz Hope, who owns the Dairy Queen, ran out the back door of the walk-up ice cream shop and chased the girls.

"The girl that had picked up the tip jar  fell," said Hope, who added that after dropping the money and jar, it was recovered.

The women fled westbound on Lakeland street in a Ford, possibly a Focus.

She said that while nearly being robbed, and after the teenage girls were disruptive, she did not want to see the lives of the teenage girls ruined by the incident. "I would like to see them get community service," Hope stated.

Anyone with information about the attempted theft is asked to call St. Clair Shores police at (586) 445-5300.

The incident came during Dairy Queen's Free Cone Day to mark its 75th anniversary. During the customer appreciation event, Hope said she handed out 1,079 free cones.