British Band Sports Team Robbed at Gunpoint During First US Tour Coffee Stop
British indie band Sports Team faced an armed robbery on their first US tour day outside a Starbucks in Vallejo, California. The incident occurred around 8:45 AM while the band stopped for breakfast en route to Sacramento.
Man wearing black hoodie, looking distressed
A thief smashed their tour van's passenger window and stole:
- Passports and documents
- Stage equipment (cameras and laptops)
- Personal belongings and clothing
- The band's instruments, secured in a locked compartment, remained untouched
When band members attempted to intervene, the robber brandished a gun, forcing them to retreat. Lead singer Alex Rice noted the surprising calm of bystanders, suggesting such incidents were commonplace. Tour manager Lauren narrowly avoided confrontation after warnings from passersby.
Police response was minimal, with authorities directing the band to file an online report rather than dispatching officers to the scene.
Despite the setback, Sports Team remains committed to completing their tour:
- Sacramento show proceeded as planned
- San Francisco performance scheduled for Saturday
- Their third album "Boys These Days" releases in late February
"We're definitely not going to let this put us off," drummer Al Greenwood stated, maintaining a positive outlook. Rice added, "We've got nothing against the Bay Area — we think it's great here. But it's sad that it's kind of got to this sort of place with gun violence."