Scout Troop Christmas Trees Stolen

Dale City, VA. Scout Troop raises money by selling Christmas Trees. When they return the next day after unloading the delivery truck the day before, they discover someone has made off with a goodly portion of their stock.

They already have pledges of aid to make up the loss from folks as far away as Alaska and Illinois.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/1107/475907.html(This message has been edited by SSScout)

We don't know why the theives stole the trees. Maybe they needed them to raise money to buy insulin for one theif's baby sister.

It is also likely that they were sent on snip hunts at summer camp and the experience left them emotionally scarred and the only way that they can vent their rage is by stealing christmas tress from their tormentors, the Boy Scouts.

Or it could be that they are just scum like most petty theifs.

In our local paper a few years ago, a troop had their trailer stolen with all their gear in it. Within a week, donations had not only replaced the trailer and all their gear, but fattened up their bank account several times over. Talk about a fund raiser!

I have a feeling this year's Christmas tree fundraiser will out perform any previous year for these scouts.

Shakes head ... what scum bag ... at least it still proves the American community cares enough to pitch in when the shadows take advantage of the goodness ...

Does anyone know how to get in contact with someone from this Troop?

Scott Robertson

http://insanescouter.org

Helping leaders one resource at a time....

The sad thing is that this isn't the first time I've heard about Christmas Trees (being used as a fundraiser) were stolen from Boy Scouts.

Speaking of trailers our Boy Scout Roundtable Commish. spoke at the last Roundtable about how that was the number 1 thing stolen from troops and members of scouting. He then made a pitch, for I think it was, the Denver Boot?

I think trailers being the number 1 thing stolen is pretty realistic. Most trailers are stored on church properties with no security. They are easy to steal. And they have some value to the thief. Unlike a scout shed full of musty camping gear.

There are devices to secure trailers but they can be easily defeated by a determined thief.

I guess that it is ironic that my son's troop's trailer has great security but nothing is stored in it.(This message has been edited by Gold Winger)

Its the trailer they want, not its contents.

Our troop trailer also has great security. It sits in my back yard guarded by highly trained and vicious attack Weimaraners.

"Its the trailer they want, not its contents."

True but often the contents of the trailer are more valuable than the trailer.

If my son's troop stored it's gear in the trailer, there'd be at least $2,000 in tents alone waiting to be taken. Stoves, lanterns, cooking gear, first aid kits, tool box, rope . . . it all adds up.

Troop 1390 and Troop 1396 Partnered for the tree sale.

Douglas Doerr is Scoutmaster of Troop 1390. His email is:

doug_doerr@msn.com

I spoke to him this evening and he gave me permission to publish his email here. He said that he has had offers of support from as far away as Alaska. He said that they have received donations that more than make up the loss of the trees. What a lesson for his boys, that so much good can come from such a poor example. One man asked to "buy a stolen tree, not a real one, a stolen one". So Mr. Doerr said the trees would have been priced at $45 and $60 so the man sent in a check for $60.

Mr. Doerr said his Troop would discuss how to utilize the "extra" money, perhaps helping another not so fortunate (?!) Scout unit or use it to help recruitment.

He invites your communication.

Yis again and again....

I contacted the Scoutmaster, Doug Doerr, on Wednesday, 28 November, as soon as I learned that some low-life ripped off 34 of his Scouts' Christmas Trees, indicating that our Troop wanted to know how we could help his guys. Doug sent me the following reply:

Thank you for your offer, Sir. We appreciate your generous offer, but it isn't necessary. We have received much coverage in our area, based on the local television news and the local paper, the Potomac News.

Someone posted the Potomac News article, along with the web movies on a bulletin board called Free Republic. I spent last evening until 0230 addressing questions from people on this website as to where they should send donations.

Thus far, there were 44 "hits" and many offered donations--some as far away as Alaska. I received a phone call from a man in Western Maryland who wanted to buy "one of our stolen trees." I told him that we averaged the losses at $45 per tree. He said he was talking to all of his friends, recommending they "buy a tree."

This evening, I was working the tree stand, and we received another $265 from people who just stopped by. Then, right before closing, my assistant scoutmaster brought me a "special delivery." It was a check for $1500 from a Public Affairs firm in Alexandria.

We have truly been blessed, and as I told my scouts, "there are far more better people in the world than bad."

Thank you again for your generous offer.

Sincerely,

Doug Doerr

Well, it looks like robbing Boy Scouts selling Christmas Trees has become an epidemic. Our Scouts selling Christmas Trees in southern Ohio got ripped off last night, too. Unfortunately, this time the thieves were wielding weapons.

Cincinnati-area Boy Scouts selling Christmas trees robbed at gunpoint

Tuesday, December 4, 2007 9:45 AM

NORTH COLLEGE HILL, Ohio (AP) Two Boy Scouts and their fathers selling Christmas trees were knocked to the ground by three men with sawed-off shotguns who took about $350, police in this Cincinnati suburb said. Both adults and one boy also were punched.

At first I thought it was just a little joke, but then, when I saw the gun, I was terrified, said John Hancock Jr., 13, of Troop 393. And after I saw the gun this guy just punched me right here and it knocked me down, the boy said, pointing to his face.

The men were last seen running down a nearby street after the robbery Monday night.

They were gutsy enough to not have masks and stupid enough to hit a kid, said police Sgt. Robert Kidd. What kind of man hits a kid?

A business owner has offered to replace the boys' money.

Jez... how low can people get ... at least in some cases it also brings out a lot of support and generosity from those it may not have otherwise...

Scott Robertson

http://insanescouter.org

How right you are, Scott. You ought to read about all the support these Scouts are getting from their friends and neighbors--a sight to behold!