WISCONSIN COMPUTER STOLEN FROM BOY SCOUTS ROOM WiscNews.com : Wisconsin Dells Events

Police are searching for suspects after Wisconsin Dells Boy Scout Troop 66 found its meeting room in Bowman Park vandalized and its laptop computer stolen.

The troop meets every Monday in a building called "The Stable," a two-story facility just north of the picnic shelter, behind the Bowman House. It once was the stable for the house.

The troop meets on the second floor. The first floor houses public restrooms and janitorial supplies, according to Wisconsin Dells Park and Recreation Director Thad Meister.

Tom Jones, scout master, said the troop that consists of 21 boys ages 11 to 17, found its meeting room in disarray when the Scouts arrived for their regular 7 p.m. meeting on March 19. When they left the facility the prior week on March 12 everything was in place, he said.

According to a police report, a metal file cabinet had been pried open and a laptop computer which police valued at $1,000 had been taken, a coffee pot had been shattered on the floor, a fire extinguisher had been used, $100 had been taken from a cash box and a large, blue plastic bin had been removed from a closet shelf.

Jones was indignant that the United States flag was left buried under office supplies that had been strewn across the floor.

"Whoever did it didn't have enough respect for the flag," he said.

Police took some of the items into evidence. They found the building's windows and doors intact and no forced entry was apparent.

Wisconsin Dells Police Sgt. Brian Landers who is investigating the case, said one of the doors may have been unlocked. He also said thieves have devised ways to enter locked buildings.

He suspects children are involved because the theft was accompanied by vandalism.

The suspects took time to make a mess and in the meantime discovered some valuable items to steal, Landers said.

Usually when stealing is the main objective, thieves enter a location and leave it as soon as possible, he added.

Although Landers said that nationally, burglaries have a 30 percent clearance rate — the rate at which individuals are prosecuted and cases are solved — the liklihood that this crime will be solved is good if fingerprints on the disturbed items can be documented, he said.

"My personal belief is that there were a couple kids, maybe more than two (involved)," Landers said.

Meister said access to the building is limited. Groups interested in using it must contact the Wisconsin Dells Park and Recreation Department and retrieve the key from the police department. New lights had recently been installed around the building to enhance security, he added.

"After this happening we're probably going to try to limit the use of the building," Meister said.

Jones said the troop had been meeting at the Stable for seven years and nothing of this magnitude had happened before.

The stolen lap top computer is used to keep track of the boys' badge accomplishments.

"It was donated, and we really can't afford to replace," Jones said.

Jones was upset about the vandalism.

"It's really kind of a rotten thing to do to Boy Scouts. We're definitely non-profit. We tend to lose money every year," he said. The troop spends funds on financial assistance so boys can attend summer camps, Jones said.

"We're not trying to make money. We just want to be able to provide boys this service, give them a good program." he said.

The troop is doing everything it can to help police find the culprit. Jones thinks other children might be to blame.

"We told the boys they could just listen at school. If somebody did this they're probably going to brag," Jones said.

In the two years Meister has been working as the park and recreation department director, he said vandalism to the city's parks has been insignificant.

"We've never had a problem," he said.

The only exception has been children who draw on picnic tables.

"It's been pretty minor, and we are taking steps to try to help correct this. I'm hoping to work together with other departments. It's unfortunate that people have to do this to city parks," Meister said.

Landers said anyone with information about the crime is encouraged to report it at the police department. He said those involved in the crime can also come forward. If the culprits save the police investigation time by coming forward, they may receive a more lenient punishment.

Burglary is a felony crime punishable up to 30 years in prison, Landers said. Other charges that could result from the crime includetheft and criminal damage.