The tip jar -- which was swiped from outside an Albertson's store in Escondido last Saturday -- was meant to buy cookies to send to military personnel overseas as part of a program known as Operation Thin Mint. The jar contained about $40, according to a scout leader.
Police ended up tracking down David Betancourt, of Escondido, through his license plate number. He was taken into custody and faces other charges for crimes not related to the tip jar theft.