Personal military belongings stolen from US Navy sailor in Ventura

VENTURA, Calif. (KABC) -- A U.S. Navy sailor, who had just arrived in Southern California for his next duty station, had his uniforms and other personal items stolen from his car during a road trip with his ill mother.

Chase Spann wanted to fulfill a wish for his mom, Kelli, a trip to the beach in Southern California.

Kelli has brain cancer.

"It was very important to her to do this trip. It's kind of like a bucket list type of thing, and I'm just helping her out," Chase said.

Chase was being transferred from Virginia to Port Hueneme, so he picked his mother up in Ohio and they took off on a road trip. The pair stopped at the Grand Canyon, where Chase made a tribute to stand up against cancer.

The two arrived for their stay at a beach house in Ventura late Friday night, but early Saturday morning, someone broke into Chase's Jeep and made off with important military documents and other belongings.

"I noticed my TV was gone and my uniforms, which was very...that hurt," he explained.

Chase had one uniform but two others were stolen, including the dress white uniform he was supposed to wear when he reports for duty on Wednesday.

"You have to realize that you're still alive, you're still here. Everything's going to be OK," he said. "That's the most important part."

Chase said despite his loss, he and his mother still plan to have a great time before he reports for duty.