Thousands of dollars in supplies stolen from Community Emergency Response Team trailer

GOLETA, Calif. – A trailer used by the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) has lost thousands of dollars in emergency supplies after a burglary.

It is used by Carpinteria, Goleta, UC Santa Barbara and The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. (Santa Barbara City has its own trailer.)

The crime occurred earlier this month when the trailer was broken into at its parked location behind the Goleta Community Center building. A side door was opened after a lock was cut off.

Photos show cabinets and doors opened up and items strewn about.

The losses include a generator and telecommunications equipment.

The Foodbank has used it for training classes for volunteers and staff who will be on the front line during a disaster. Anthony Rodriguez is the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County Operations and Disaster Services Specialist. He said in an emergency now the vehicle would be in use. The next training classes will be in September. The vehicle is also used in community outreach including at a display at the Lemon Festival.

The CERT program educates community members about disaster preparedness and trains them in basic disaster response skills. That includes fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations.

Santa Barbara County CERT Co-Op chair Bob Strojek is evaluating the losses and how the supplies can be replaced. Community donations and other help will be sought.

Strojek said, "some of the bigger items they took, all the pry bars out of there, they took a couple of shovels,  a generator, an easy up canopy, they took lights  extension cords,  they took all the radios out of there they took a baby dummy out I don't know why."

Training sessions can still take place. "We're not completely out of business. There's still the minimum supplies for some training there's still supplies in there  that enhanced the program," said Strojek.

Rodriguez said, the region needs to be fully prepared for the next crisis. "You just never know when and having supplies  is one of the best things you can do to be prepared."  

To help restock the emergency trailer you are asked to contribute here.