A trailer with equipment worth $13,000, owned by the Boy Scouts Troop 43, was stolen from a parking lot in Woodbridge.
According to Troop 43 leader Roger Henderson, the trailer was taken from the parking lot of the River of Grace Lutheran Church at the corner of Minnieville Road and Route 234. The troop is chartered through the church, and stores their equipment on the lot regularly, according to Henderson.
Henderson said that one of the adult leaders associated with the troop had seen the trailer on the lot on Monday, and by Tuesday, another troop leader noticed that it was gone, thinking that Henderson had moved it.
“Before our meeting Wednesday night, I was rolling over there to pick up some stuff I needed for the meeting, and I noticed the trailer wasn’t there,” said Henderson.
Troop 43 filed a report with the Prince William police for the trailer, which was filled with camping equipment like tents, stoves, and cooking gear, according to Henderson. Henderson said that it took years of hard work fundraising and collecting donations to accumulate all of the equipment.
“And it’s all gone, as far as we can tell at this point. The police have told us…generally, it’s either found the first few days, or its found months or years later when someone reports it abandoned,” said Henderson.
The troop’s upcoming camping trip is now in jeopardy, because of the missing equipment.
“It was a little shocking…we’re supposed to do a white-water rafting campout in May, so the campout part of that may be in jeopardy. Some of the other troops…have offered to loan or donate gear to us in the meantime. I’m hopeful I don’t have to take them up on that, but I’m prepared to do so if I need to. The other option is to turn it into a day trip,” said Henderson.
The VIN for the trailer is “5HABE1213AN001450” and the tag number is “455 139 TL” said Henderson. The trailer also has a missing left fender, Henderson said.
