British indie band Sports Team was robbed at gunpoint on Tuesday while touring the US, near San Francisco. The band shared the incident on Instagram, revealing that their tour van was looted while they were having breakfast at a Starbucks in Vallejo, California, around 8:45 a.m. local time. The thief stole stage equipment, laptops, passports, personal belongings, and other valuables. A passerby alerted the band to the break-in, and when they tried to intervene, the suspect brandished a firearm.
Drummer Al Greenwood recounted to the BBC: “Somebody opened the door and said, ‘Does anyone have a white Sprinter van? Because you’re being robbed right now.'” The band’s tour manager, who approached the van, was confronted with the gun, while members and bystanders sought cover inside the Starbucks.
Footage captured from the store shows the suspect removing items from the van, while the group and others took cover. “When someone pulls a gun, you run for cover,” singer Alex Rice said. “But what struck me was the resignation. The people around us weren’t panicking—it felt like a regular occurrence.”
Items taken included cameras, laptops, and in-ear monitors, though the band confirmed their instruments were safely secured in the van’s fortified back. Unfortunately, three band members had their passports stolen.
Despite contacting the police, the band claims officers instructed them to file an online report instead of responding in person. Despite the unsettling incident, the band, known for two top 10 albums in the UK, has decided to continue their tour. They performed in Sacramento on Tuesday night and are set to return to the area for another show on Saturday. Their east coast performances had gone smoothly prior to the robbery.
