Boys Scouts troop's camping gear stolen from storage shed in Apple Valley; GoFundMe launched

APPLE VALLEY, Calif. (KABC) -- A GoFundMe campaign was launched after thieves stole thousands of dollars worth of a Boy Scout troop's camping gear from a storage shed in Apple Valley.

In an interview, Andrew Simpson of with Troop 557 told ABC7 that with some new members recently joining to enjoy the group's outdoor activities, the theft has forced the troop to cancel upcoming camping and hiking trips.

"I kind of grew up in the lifestyle of wanting to be out and camp," Simpson said. "But some of these boys -- we had three new boys join in the last month, so these are experiences they've never done before."

Because of the Jan. 11 theft, "these new boys won't be able to experience the outdoors and go camping," he said.

The thieves not only stole gear from the troop, they also took items from the shed belonging to the Knights of Columbus, Catholic fraternal service organization, and a dance studio.

"It was kind of a shock," Cecilia Crowl Rosato, an instructor at the dance studio. "Somebody said, 'How come you're not crying?' I said, 'What's the use of crying?'

"I was really upset because there was about 50 CD's in each basket" that was stolen, Rosato said.

Boy Scout Troop 557 has set up a GoFundMe page to replace what was stolen -- including a two-person kayak with paddles, four camping stoves, 15 hiking backpacks, nine fishing poles, eight two-person tents and eight sleeping bags.

Having "all of this gone is already hard enough and it possibly may be even become closure of the troop," Simpson lamented.

According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, a report was filed after the theft. No descriptions of any suspects were available.