In life, you win some and you lose some. Luckily for one local Boy Scout troop, it didn't happen in that order.

Last August, Troop 1974 leader Bob Ortiz reported the Scout trailer, along with a plethora of equipment, missing. Nearly six months later, the Scouts have a new trailer and new gear - thanks to a number of statewide donations.

Standing outside St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, where the group regularly meets, acting troop leader Al Schrantz said gifts came in from all over New Mexico, from Espanola and Los Alamos and Albuquerque and more. And they effectively replaced everything that was stolen.

Since the trailer was taken from its parking spot on church grounds, the Boy Scouts have gotten donations of everything from camping supplies, such as sleeping bags and tents, to cash. In all, it allowed them to replace all the items that were taken, Schrantz said. Until Wednesday, however, they had nothing in which to store or transport their equipment.

The final missing piece, the trailer, was provided by Mayor Kevin Jackson and Albuquerque's Action RV, each picking up half of the $3,000 tab.

Action RV owner Mark Podeyn, who has had many trailers stolen from his business, said the gift was one of "good will, good karma."

Troop 1974 senior leader Michael Schrantz said that while the theft had the group "bummed out," ingenuity and determination kept the troop rolling.

"It didn't really stop us from doing anything," he said. "We still had trucks and vans and cars."

Michael Schrantz, Al's son, said his comrades eventually accepted the loss of the trailer.

"I don't know why they took it, especially from a church," he said. "That's the way life goes."

Reactions like that have made his father proud of the entire troop.

"The boys actually weathered it pretty good," he said.

To compensate for the loss of the trailer, scout trips were limited in length and distance, the elder Schrantz said. The new trailer, which is about the same size as the old one, should be ready for the next trip in mid-March, a trip in which it will be a necessity when the Cub Scouts joined their older counterparts.

The trailer still must be equipped with shelving for storage, much like the previous one was. Schrantz, finding the silver lining, said the older trailer needed a new shelving layout. Starting from scratch, he said, would make the job easier.

Despite the celebration over the new trailer, the discussion between Schrantz and Podeyn briefly turned to security, making sure the trailer stayed there.

After it was stolen, Department of Public Safety spokesman John Francis said there was little chance for a recovery. On Thursday, he verified that there has been no progress in the case.

Because recovery is so difficult, the scouts are turning instead to prevention. In addition to the trailer, Podeyn also brought a bright red wheel lock, similar to "boots" used by police departments. The scouts also plan to chain the trailer to a secure metal post to make it unattractive to thieves.

With the numerous gifts and donations that poured in, some in the crowd speculated that the scouts had learned a lesson in giving. Schrantz said it at least left them thankful.

"We are eternally impressed and grateful," he said of all the troop's benefactors.