MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Boy Scout trailer with thousands of dollars in camping supplies reported stolen last Thursday has been found, Melbourne Police Dept. says.
Melbourne police said Thursday that they had arrested someone in the case.
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The trailer was found Wednesday on Cinnamon Lake Circle in Melbourne. Fortunately most of the camping gear was still inside after an inventory.
Melbourne police say they arrested Stephen Petnel, 36, of Melbourne. They say he confessed to the theft.
According to police, when they found the trailer, there was damage from paint and scrape marks to an attempt to hide "Boy Scouts of America Troop #285," which is based out of Melbourne.
The trailer was initially parked on Unity Church on South Harbor City Boulevard.
When the troop returned to retrieve it last Thursday night, the trailer was gone. They were preparing to go on a weekend camping trip.
Inside the trailer were tents, canopies, stoves and other gear, all worth about $10,000.
The clerk at a nearby BP gas station is a former boy scout, who was familiar with the troop and their trailer.
He provided police with a surveillance picture of Petnel when he came inside to pay for gas, as his truck with the stolen trailer in tow waited at the pump that same day.
Petnel is charged with grand theft.
Detectives tell Spectrum News that our stories over the past week, and on social media, made the difference in cracking this case.
Troop leaders are thrilled to have it back and that the person responsible behind bars.
"(It') overwhelming. I had no idea so many people would be so responsive to our needs,' said Renee Waldrop with Boy Scout Troop 285.