Colonel Bob Miller, advisor to Bogalusa Venture Crew 313, Boy Scouts of America, said someone stole one of the troop’s racing canoes after the March flooding.

He is asking for community support getting the canoe back.

Miller had six of the troop’s canoes stored at his home on Avenue I near Cassidy Park.
Miller said on March 12, a Saturday, he “observed that one of the six canoes was missing, apparently taken by someone the preceding day.”

Miller said he then secured the remaining canoes and reported the theft to the police. Miller said he’s had no luck getting any information, though he did get word an eyewitness saw the canoe in the back of a black four-wheel-drive pickup truck on across the Long Branch Café on Avenue F on Friday, the day it was stolen.

Miller said the eyewitness reported the canoe was “being held down by a young boy, probably around 14 or 15 years old, somewhat on the heavy side.”

The canoe is a distinctive racing canoe, with a school bus yellow marker on the bow.
If anyone has any information about the canoe, Miller asks that they call him at 985-750-8134, or call law enforcement.

Miller added that this was not the first time a canoe has been stolen after flooding, although it hasn’t happened in a while.

“It’s been a long time,” he said, explaining the last theft was 10 or 15 years ago.
“It’s usually after we have real high water. But we recovered those canoes; they were found underneath the Avenue B bridge.”

Miller said the troop uses the canoes each July to compete in a 120-mile race in Arkansas.