Cd'A deli owner reports theft as 'potential buyers' take cash

COEUR d'ALENE - People who said they wanted to learn to "manage the money" of a deli before buying it instead stole nearly $300 in cash.

The owner of the deli on Northwest Boulevard told police she posted the business for sale on Craigslist in early March. She was contacted by people interested in buying the business and she invited them to come to the shop and observe operations, the police report said.

While they were there on March 13, the alleged perspective buyers told the owner "they were going to take the cash and checks in the drawer so they could learn to mange the money" and said they would return on March 15 with the money so she could help them purchase the insurance they needed for the business.

In all, they took $282.14 in cash and $33.10 in checks.

The people did not return with the money. The owner told police they did not have permission to take the money and she had no contract for them to buy the business.

She said they drove a Ford Econoline van with Washington plates.