Surveillance video in a Bronx liquor store captured a man stealing $500 from a three-year-old child.
Derion, the three-year-old child, stood beside his mother in line at the Discount Wine and Liquor store. He reached playfully into her back pocket and tugged out an envelope. His mom never noticed, according to ABC News.
The envelope contained $500 cash.
Surveillance footage shows a man approach the counter beside Derion to look for something. Derion waves his toy trumpet at the stranger. The man notices the envelope in the Derion's hand, but he ignores the boy and continues browsing.
Derion, restless, eventually shuffles to the back of the liquor store. The man, seeing an opportunity, follows. He quietly snatches the envelope and shoves past customers to the exit. He bolts as soon as he is outside.
Derion's mother, Caroline, had just withdrawn the cash from an ATM and didn't realize her son took the envelope from her pocket. She doesn't blame her son and says it's hard to stay mad at a three-year-old.
The man who stole the money, however, "shattered" her day.
"He's a horrible, terrible person, robbing $500 from a baby like this?" Caroline said. "He takes off like a shot the minute he leaves the store," Liquor store owner Rashad Algazali said. "We see what he looks like, he's running, he did something, he definitely did something wrong, of course."
Police are actively pursuing all leads.
