Three siblings - Jonty, 9, Maeve, 7 and Darcy, 4 - set up an honesty box alongside bags of firewood last year as a way to earn some pocket money.

Each week they venture out with their dad, Ben Tyndall, to find firewood on private property. While their dad cuts it up, the children then sort it into bags and carry it out the front to sell for $15 each.

As their little business has boomed, they have since added bags of pine cones and kindling.

But on Sunday morning the excited children awoke, with Jonty venturing out to the set-up on their nature strip in Learmonth about 9am.

It was there he discovered that somebody had cleared the cage of all of the firewood, pinecones and kindling without paying a cent.

Their little business operates with an honesty system and while they have experienced theft in the past, and some people shortchange them, this was a big hit.

Mr Tyndall estimated about $250 worth of sales had been stolen and with each bag of firewood weighing 20kg, he said the thief would have used a ute or trailer to undertake it.

He said his children were "pretty disheartened and disappointed" to find that someone had stolen from them.

"They don't see all the time and effort the kids put into this and they are the ones that are hurting. Their faces were so sad when they found what had happened."

He hopes to encourage people to be more honest, knowing that the little business on High Street is run by small children.

From the profits they earn, the children buy more bags and cable ties to keep running their business.

"It teaches them responsibility and that they need to buy to earn," Mr Tyndall said. "It teaches them about money."

The parents give each child a percentage of the remaining profits to buy what they wish to, with the rest put into individual bank accounts for each child when they are older - such as to buy a car when they turn 18.

The children have been encouraged not to give up, with Mr Tyndall since taking steps to prevent further instances.

In an effort to deter theft and catch anyone who might be considering it, this week Mr Tyndall installed security cameras on his property.

The cage in which the goods are stored is also now locked overnight.

"We will open it in the morning and lock it at night just to stop this from happening," he said.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or to make a confidential report online.

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