SUMMERSIDE
Zander Birt is heartbroken.
The 11-year-old businessman had a successful first month and a half of selling frozen treats from his homemade hand cart, but now he’s hit a road block after the cart was stolen.
“He’s pretty upset about it. I think we’re all in disbelief,” said Zander’s mom, Amanda.
“My husband went out onto the property on Aug. 22 and the cart was still there, either the next day, or the day after it was taken. But whoever took the cart left Zander’s bike, which was hooked up to it at the time.”
Zander launched his business, Zizzard’s Treats, mobile frozen treat shop, earlier this summer as part of the Young Millionaire’s program.
“The cart took two weeks to make. It doesn’t seem like much, but it meant so much to Zander that we all helped build it as a family.”
She says Zander was excited to continue his business into the school year and he already had plans for how he was going to spend the money.
“He was really looking forward to going into a store and spending money he earned for himself.”
On Wednesday she made a public Facebook post asking for tips and that, if the person who took the cart saw the post, to return it, no-questions-asked.
After the post was circulating on social media, she says Summerside Police Services contacted her. She has since filed a police report.
“I thought social media was the best way to go to get the word out there fast.”
In the meantime, Zander is trying to stay positive.
“He has been invited to a selling event on Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. at IO Solutions in Summerside. That gives him something to look forward to.
“But I hope we can find the cart. I know he’s going to keep running his business for as long as he can, but it’d be nice to have it back.”
The cart is blue and white with Zizzard’s Treats painted on it.
Amanda says she has received one message about the cart.
“I got a text message the other day where the person said they saw the cart in the Shur-Gain area between 3 and 4 a.m. on Aug. 23 or 24.”
Corporal Jason Blacquiere of the Summerside Police Service says they are looking into the matter, and reminds residents to secure bicycles in a safe place and to ensure car doors are locked.
Anyone with information about the cart’s whereabouts are asked to contact Amanda at 902-940-3835 or at [email protected], or Summerside Police Service at 902-432-1201.
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