“Just so amazing”: Gatton community rallies behind Leo Tyers, a six-year-old, who had money stolen from his produce shop days out from Christmas

Just days before Christmas little Leo’s produce stand was robbed, but the spirit of his local community has shone through in the wake of the thieves’ heartless act.

Leo Tyers pictured in front of his shop at 9 Ford St Gatton.

Heartless thieves stole from a six-year-old entrepreneur’s fruit and vegetable stand days before Christmas, but it was the community’s response to the crime that restored the boy’s parents’ faith in humanity.

Barbara Sanchez, Leo’s mother, said thieves broke into her son’s honesty box just days out from Christmas, stealing between $50-$70 worth of cash.

The incident was the second time thieves had stolen from Leo’s shop in a matter of weeks.

The incident, she said, had left the six-year-old “pretty upset”.

In the two-and-a-half years since Leo had opened his shop, the community had quickly started to “know about him”, and many had become reliant on the shop for their weekly fresh produce.

Leo sells produce from local farmers that has slight imperfections and would otherwise be destined for landfill because it doesn’t meet supermarket standards.

It means people can purchase their fruit and vegetables at more affordable prices.

But after thieves had stolen the cash, Barbara said, she faced no choice but to close her son’s shop as it was no longer “affordable”.

That’s when the Gatton community stepped up, donating cash, produce and toys for the shop after Barbara posted what had happened to her son’s shop on Facebook.

One local business even donated security cameras for Leo’s shop; another donated a more secure honesty box.

The community’s support and generosity, Leo said, had made him feel incredibly “happy”.

Barbara described the Lockyer Valley community as “just so amazing”.

“People just started showing up at my house and they wanted to give Leo cash to recover the stolen money,” she said.

“Honestly, we weren’t expecting this.”

Since opening his first shop two-and-a-half years ago, Leo has since opened another and now manages both shops with the help of his mum and best friend Jessica.

Barbara said it all started with just $5 dollars which Leo used to buy some pumpkins and limes from a local farmer.

“From there things escalated very quickly,” she said.

After all the support from the community, Leo is now giving back.

Last Saturday, with the generous donations from local businesses, he gave away 50 donation boxes filled with local produce, sweets and toys.

There are even plans, Barbara said, for more donation boxes to be given away this weekend.