HOUSTON—
The Boy Scout motto is to "be prepared." But nothing could have prepared Troop 854 in Houston for what recently happened. Someone stole the scouts' trailer full of camping gear.Now, the troop leaders want answers.
39 News spoke to the scout master of Troop 854 about this stolen cargo trailer. The big question many are wondering is why someone would do something like this to the Boy Scouts? As we found out, Boy Scout Troop 854 is taking this loss personal for many reasons.
Dale Calcarone has been the scout master for Boy Scout Troop 854 for 11 years. Unfortunately, having a cargo trailer stolen is something he's seen before.
"(It) was probably my third or fourth year into being scout master," said Calcarone.
In 2003, thieves stole a cargo trailer, which was roughly the size of the one taken from this locked storage area at Genoa United Methodist Church.
"They moved the hinges around on the poles and was able to slide the whole gate off this time," said Calcarone.
Troop 854 isn't the only Boy Scout organization dealing with thieves.
"Another troop of ours in the counsel is troop 199," said Calcarone. "Their trailer was attempted stolen, and that they got it back luckily because I guess it jumped off the trailer is the story I got. It wasn't hitched right."
There could be a connection.
"The lady that was driving by that noticed a maroon suburban backed up to their scout trailer, she called the scout master and wondered if somebody was supposed to be doing that," said Calcarone.
"We went around driving around some of the local storage facilities trying to call, and contact the owners and maybe checking their video cameras on those few nights to see if a trailer by that description came in," said Terry Thompson, who's the assistant scout master with Troop 854.
The biggest loss for Troop 854 is the hours that went into earning this cargo trailer.
"It's the kids hard work sweat and everything else they put into it and their pride," said Thompson.
"It's a lot more than just taking a trailer, you know, it's the pride that you're taking away from somebody," said Calcarone.
Residents are devastated about the recent news.
"Very ... especially against the Boy Scouts. Good guys you know," said Dale Rogers, a resident who lives nearby where the incident took place.
"Actually it's a pretty quiet neighborhood."
"It's (the trailer) made by Continental Cargo and (Continental) Tailwinds the model," said Calcarone. "It had a fold down ramp door on the back (there's also a) side door on the passenger side."
Between the cargo trailer and camping gear that was stolen, Boy Scout Troop 854 lost nearly $9,000. A donation account has been set up with Wells Fargo. Anyone can make a donation in reference to Kelly Jernigan: Boy Scout Troop 854 or with account number 8990923198.
