Boy Scouts fight to get trailer back

GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) - A trailer stolen from Greenwood troop 621 has been found , and there was even some of the scouts equipment inside.  But, that's where the good news ends.

Red tape is ruining the reunion between the scouts and their trailer. It took the troop five years to save enough money to buy the trailer. Finding it was great for them. But getting it back is where the story takes a turn.  "We were very relieved and then we realized the bureaucracy surrounding it, because now we got to fight to get it back," says Assistant Scout Master James Castellano. 

Stolen from the American Legion lot in Greenwood, IMPD found it last Tuesday on the west side, on Washington St. near High School Road. With decals scraped off,  it was a little worse for the wear, but Castellano says it looks like it can be salvaged.  "We're tickled to find the trailer. It looks like we can get it back in service when we get it. We can see there is some equipment in there," he says.

See it, but can't get it. 

The thieves filed down the VIN number on the trailer. By law, a new VIN number has to be issued before the trailer can be released to the troop. So, the trailer sits in an impound lot, and fees continue to mount.  "I think it's a 90 dollar impound fee and 15 dollars a day," says Castellano. Fees the troop was told it will have to pay. 

But it gets worse.  "Oh by the way, in ten days from the time we got it, it's going up for auction," says Castellano, is what the troop was told at the impound lot. 

Ten days is Wednesday.  The troop is worried the found trailer will be lost at an auction. IMPD says they understand the frustration of the boy scout troop. They asked for some patience. A spokesman said, because a new VIN number is needed, the process is slower than normal. But they are working to get this resolved as quickly as possible without cost to the troop.  Said the Assistant Scout Master Castellano, "we just don't want to see it, find it and then lose it again. That would be very heart breaking." 

Just when the trailer will be released to the troop is still not known. But IMPD assured 24-Hour-News 8, this will be worked out. 

In the meantime, the troop wants to thank everyone who came to its rescue. It got thousands of dollars in donations along with new equipment.  They are no longer accepting donations. And they say any money they don't need will either be returned to the donors, or given to the boy scout council to help other troops in need.