After the punks bruised his eye, took his money and stole his wallet, including his library card, Austin probably didn't expect the story of the crime to receive statewide attention in the media.
Now, on Friday, Austin's story has gone global. He made the Drudge Report.
As linked by Drudge, from the Green Bay Press-Gazette:
An Oshkosh boy who was robbed of his lemonade stand money on Tuesday has seen an outpouring of support from people who have sent him cards and money.
Austin Cundy, 11, said he appreciates those in the community who thought enough to help him through his ordeal.
"I think it's very nice that people care," Cundy said Thursday.
Cundy was robbed by two teenagers of a plastic container containing $20 that he had collected by selling cold drinks from a stand in the 800 block of Knapp Street.
Oshkosh police on Wednesday evening took a 17-year-old boy into custody in connection with the robbery at Cundy's lemonade stand.
Sgt. Steve Sagmeister said officers went to the boy's residence after receiving information by way of a citizen tip. Sagmeister said officers arrested the boy at 9:35 p.m. and recovered a plastic container, but no money. The boy was booked into the Winnebago County Jail on suspicion of robbery and physical abuse to a child, Sagmeister said.
No charges have been filed, but the report has been referred to the Winnebago County district attorney's office.
Cundy said he was selling cold drinks to raise money to go camping with his grandparents and to buy a birthday present for his mother. He said he saw two teenagers on bicycles eyeballing him as they were riding past.
About 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, he told police, one of the teenage boys punched Cundy, shoved him off his chair and took the plastic container with the money in it along with Cundy's wallet, which held his library card and student ID.
Cundy said it probably will be a while before he has another lemonade stand. However, he said, some people who have contacted him asked if he'd like to have a lemonade stand at their businesses. Another person offered to give Cundy and his parents passes to the Experimental Aircraft Association AirVenture gathering this week at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.
Others have simply offered to replace the stolen money.
Cundy's mother, Nicole Cundy, said she's impressed with the response from the community.
If Nicole Cundy is impressed with the outpouring of support so far, I'm sure this is just the beginning.
I wouldn't be surprised if Austin gets offers to be interviewed by media outlets around the country. Katie Couric would find the story irresistible. He may appear on the morning talk shows and the Tonight Show or Letterman. Who knows?
There's something positively un-American about knocking over a kid's lemonade stand.
Austin seems like such a sweet boy. I hope all the attention helps to restore his faith in the goodness of people.
Nice guys don't always finish last.
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