An orchestra's van full of instruments and recording equipment has been stolen from Birmingham city centre - leaving them with a crippling £60,000 loss.
The People's Orchestra, based in West Bromwich, was recording new work by award-winning film composer John Koutselinis celebrating the Commonwealth Games yesterday (January 23) when crooks struck.
They had packed up all the equipment in the Fiat van in Gough Street when it was taken between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. The theft has been labelled a "disaster" by the charity, which has been saved for 10 years for the van and equipment.
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A post on The People's Orchestra's social media says: "HELP!!! Our van has been stolen. BL66 VHN . A white large Fiat full or instruments and recording kit. We are a charity and this will cripple us. It was stolen from Birmingham city centre this evening between 6.30 and 8.30pm tonight - 23rd Jan 2022.
"The van is a major lifeline for us. please help. It's has a distinctive tail lift and kick step.
"Please make it to hot to handle!!!"
Sarah Marshall, CEO of The People's Orchestra, appealed for help to find the van and has launched a fundraising page to try and replace some of the stolen instruments.
She said: "We were in Birmingham last night and had finished off two days of recording a new piece of music and the van was stolen with all the instruments and recording equipment in.
"It's a nightmare, it's an adapted van and we've lost £60,000 overnight.
"It's specialist equipment and the orchestra helped thousands of people back into work in the Black Country and we can't help without that van. We're just lost without it.
"Just as we're trying to keep going after the pandemic this happens. We'd had musicians and singers from across the UK come to do recordings.
"The van only came back to pack up at about 6pm, and now we're left with a massive hole. The van and percussion is needed for this Sunday, we're launching The People's Big Band.
"The orchestra is just gutted, absolutely gutted, I don't think they can believe it. It's taken us 10 years to build it up, we're a small charity."
The main orchestra was chosen as one of the five best and most inspiring amateur orchestras in the country appearing on the BBC’s All Together Now: Great Orchestra Challenge.
The charity was awarded The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in June 2021 and has a history of offering work placements and volunteer experiences.
Since 2013, it has helped over 1,000 unemployed people back into work through its programme of work experience placements, education programmes and community outreach work.
To donate to the fundraiser click here. If anyone has any information, contact the police on 101, quoting crime reference number 20/102908/22.
West Midlands Police has been asked to comment.
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