The British indie band Sports activities Group was robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday throughout the US leg of their tour close to San Francisco, the group revealed on Instagram. In an announcement, the six-member band mentioned their tour van was ransacked whereas they stopped for breakfast at a Starbucks in Vallejo, California, round 8:45 a.m. native time. A thief stole stage tools, laptops, passports, private objects, and different valuables. A passerby reportedly alerted the band to the break-in, and when members tried to intervene, the suspect pulled out a gun.
“Any individual opened the door and was like: Does anyone have a white Sprinter van? Since you’re being robbed proper now,” drummer Al Greenwood advised the BBC.
“I actually thought I used to be about to look at somebody get shot as a result of it took some time for our tour supervisor to comprehend,” she added.
Footage captured from contained in the Starbucks exhibits the suspect brandishing a firearm on the group’s tour supervisor as she approached the van. The suspect is seen eradicating objects from the automobile whereas band members and bystanders sought cowl inside.
“Clearly, if somebody pulls a gun, you run for canopy,” singer Alex Rice advised the BBC. “However the factor that struck me about it was the resignation. The individuals round us weren’t very panicked in any respect. It appeared like a really on a regular basis prevalence.”
The group advised Sky Information that objects together with cameras, laptops, in-ear displays and different private objects have been taken. Fortunately, the devices have been secure as a result of, as they defined, “the again of the van is fortified.” Nevertheless, frontman Alex Rice mentioned three band members had their passports stolen.
The band contacted police, however declare officers declined to reply in particular person, instructing them to file an internet report as an alternative.
Regardless of the incident, Sports activities Group, identified for reaching two prime 10 albums within the UK, plans to proceed their tour. They performed in Sacramento on Tuesday night and are scheduled to return to the realm for an additional present on Saturday. Previous to this, their east coast performances had gone with out incident.
