The indie group lost personal belongings and equipment after a thief targeted their van on the first day of their US tour

Sports Team, the British indie band known for their energetic riffs and dry humour, were robbed at gunpoint on the first day of their US tour. The incident took place in Vallejo, California, where a thief looted the group’s tour van, stealing passports, stage equipment, and personal belongings.

The band, who have earned critical acclaim with two top 10 albums in the UK, were in the Bay Area preparing for their opening show in nearby Sacramento when the robbery occurred. Around 4:45 pm UK time (8:45 am in California), the band had stopped at a Starbucks for breakfast when a passerby alerted them to the robbery in progress.

A harrowing video, shared with the BBC, shows the thief brandishing a gun at the band’s tour manager as she approached the van. “Obviously, if someone pulls a gun, you run for cover,” said lead singer Alex Rice. “But the thing that struck me about it was the resignation. The people around us weren’t very panicked at all. It seemed like a very everyday occurrence.”

Drummer Al Greenwood recalled the moment when the robbery was discovered. “Somebody opened the door and was like, ‘Does anybody have a white Sprinter van? Because you’re being robbed right now,'” he told the BBC. The band rushed out to confront the situation, but the sight of the gun left them in shock. “I really thought I was about to watch someone get shot,” said Greenwood. “It took a while for our tour manager to realise. In the video, you can hear me screaming at her to get down.”

The footage, filmed by another band member from inside the Starbucks, shows the group’s van with its passenger window smashed and the door hanging open. Meanwhile, the thief, still at the van, is caught on camera looting the vehicle. In the background, the Starbucks staff can be heard calmly advising the band to stay inside. “Guys, get inside. Please stay inside,” says a female voice, while the bandmates duck back into the cafe. “It was very discombobulating because they just carried on with their shift,” Greenwood noted. “They started serving drinks straight away.”

Once the group contacted the police, they were advised to fill out an online form about the robbery, with no officers sent to investigate the incident. The BBC has reached out to the local police department for comment.

For Sports Team, the robbery marks a disturbing start to their much-anticipated US tour. While the group had hoped to focus on their music and the excitement of performing, this unsettling experience has added a dark layer to what was supposed to be a celebratory moment in their career. Despite the trauma, the band members have remained resilient, even as they deal with the aftermath of the crime.

The theft of their equipment and personal items has left them without essential belongings, but the band has not let this setback dampen their spirits. The group’s fans, both in the UK and abroad, have rallied in support, with many expressing their outrage at the incident.

As they continue their tour, the Sports Team will undoubtedly carry with them the memory of this shocking encounter. However, their commitment to music remains unshaken, and they are determined to press on with their US tour, even as they recover from this traumatic event.