MELBOURNE, Fla. -- Police in Melbourne are tracking down leads in the theft of a Boy Scouts troop trailer worth thousands of dollars.

  • Someone stole trailer full of supplies, gear for Boy Scout troop
  • Camping items inside trailer were worth about $10,000
  • If you'd like to help replace stolen items, contact info below

It took years for the scouts from Melbourne's Troop 285 to save up money for their trailer and camping gear.

They washed cars, and sold popcorn and candy, with all that money going toward tents, cooking items and stoves.

"Not only is it the trailer and all the supplies, but now they are losing hours outdoors," said Renee Waldrop of Boy Scout Troop 285.

That trailer was stolen from the parking lot of Unity Church last Wednesday.

The scouts didn't know it was gone until they arrived Thursday night to prep for a weekend camping trip.

"Stealing from children," says Waldorp. "And it was parked at a church. That's a special place in Hell for you, right?"

But who took it?

Waldrop says after the theft, a man was spotted driving a truck, pulling the scouts' trailer. The man was seen stopped for gas at the BP station at the intersection of Sarno Road and Apollo Boulevard.

The clerk who was working at the time is a former scout from another local troop, but familiar with that trailer.

He sent Waldrop a security camera picture of the man, who he says paid cash for just a couple of gallons of gas.

That picture is now in the hands of police.

As for the scouts, Waldrop says it's an unfortunate lesson they are learning early in life.

"The children aren't going to be trusting anymore," Waldrop said. "They will get the attitude, why do we need to work so hard?"

If you have any information where the trailer is, call Melbourne Police or Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS (8477).

If you'd like to donate money to help, checks can be made out to BSA Troop 285 and can be mailed to Central Florida Council BSA, P.O. Box 360356, Melbourne, 32936. Or if you'd like to donate an item, contact Troop285Melbourne@gmail.com to make arrangements.