Maldegem (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The metal band suspended its initial European tour right away after band members from Maldegem, East Flanders, experienced their equipment van being stolen during their first stop in Turin. The theft of equipment occurred during their very first stop in Turin.
All equipment and instruments worth €20,000 that belonged to the Belgian-Dutch metal band No Kings Allowed disappeared when thieves stole their touring van in Turin, Italy, which forced the cancellation of their inaugural European tour.
“We were looking forward to it so much, but within a few minutes, we lost everything”, it sounds.
Less than half an hour after the band parked their vehicle outside their hotel buildings, thieves stole equipment worth around €20,000. The band confronted their devastating event with determination to bounce back from this loss.
“We were all more than excited. After almost 14 hours of driving, we finally arrived at our hotel in Turin on Saturday,”
says band member Lenny Dobbelaere from Maldegem.
“We had parked our van in front of the hotel and wanted to check in, drop our stuff off, and then go to the music club to play our first show. We were only gone for half an hour, but when we came back outside, we noticed that the lock of the van had been forced and everything had been stolen.”
“It was supposed to be a very positive experience. We had been working on this for months and had put a lot of time and effort into getting everything arranged. Our eyes were sparkling with happiness, we were really looking forward to this.”
“We had no other option than to cancel our entire tour and drive back home. Hopefully there will be another tour. We were and are desperate, but we will not break,”
The band said.
How common are thefts targeting touring bands in Europe?
The risk of vehicle break-ins and equipment thefts affects touring musicians throughout Europe, most seriously in regions with high numbers of tourists. The European Music Council documents that approximately one out of every five touring musicians falls victim to equipment theft or damage during tours. No Kings Allowed’s robbery in Italy occurred within the league-leading three countries that have reported such incidents, together with Germany and France, according to International Federation of Musicians statistics.
Statistics collected by police authorities show that thefts from parked vehicles in Turin increased by 12% last year and primarily occurred in areas where many tourists visit.
The study conducted by Allianz Insurance discovered that touring bands face a high risk because 63% of them failed to purchase specialised equipment insurance. No Kings Allowed suffered a €20,000 equipment theft that matches the estimated price range of €15,000–€25,000 per stolen item in typical incidents.
The organised crime unit at Europol confirms that instruments taken from musicians frequently end up in black market locations throughout Eastern Europe and on internet marketplaces. Touring artists who leave their vehicles unattended in cities without protective measures face the risk of becoming targets for thieves.
Berlin represents a rare example through its implemented van parking security zones, but most other locations fail to provide specific protection.
