Theft of Moonchild’s Equipment
Earlier this week, a truck containing equipment and merchandise for the Grammy-nominated band Moonchild was stolen in Oakland while they were preparing for a performance in Berkeley.
Details of the Incident
The band reported that their U-Haul was parked outside the Best Western Plus Bayside Hotel on Embarcadero in Oakland when it was taken on April 29, just before their scheduled show in Berkeley.
Recovery Efforts
Amber Navran, a band member, mentioned, “We found a few air tags thrown into bushes, but it seems like they’re pros and they found all of our air tags and just kind of dispersed them throughout town. And yeah, we haven’t been able to recover anything.”
Impact on the Tour
Surveillance footage captured a car approaching, with an individual exiting and entering the truck. Shortly after, both vehicles left with equipment and merchandise worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. As a result, the band had to cancel their remaining four tour stops in California, creating uncertainty about breaking even from their months-long tour.
Emotional Toll
Max Bryk, another band member, expressed, “Touring has, you know, you have so many expenses. You might not make any money if one thing goes wrong. So for something like this to happen was a tough hit for sure.” The band emphasized that the losses extend beyond monetary value, highlighting their emotional connection to their instruments.
Community Support
With insurance covering only a fraction of the total loss, the band initiated a GoFundMe campaign, which swiftly raised over $43,000 to assist in their recovery. Navran remarked, “We are shocked and really, really moved by people’s generosity and love and support.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the unfortunate ending to their tour, Moonchild remains committed to returning to the Bay Area. Bryk noted, “Oakland’s a music town with a lot of music lovers. And so, I definitely want to come back and play shows.” While no items have been found, the band is aware that the Oakland Police Department has a suspect in custody. They have rescheduled their Bay Area shows for this summer and mentioned that Mayor Barbara Lee has offered her support during the ongoing investigation.
