UPDATE | The Ballarat Memorial Concert Band trailer has been found still attached to the stolen car, which had crashed into a tree at Mount Clear yesterday.
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But a number of musical instruments and equipment are still missing.
Musical director Wade Carman said while he was relieved to have the trailer and some of its contents back, it was disappointing to find some of his personal items had been burnt.
But he was hopeful to know a number of items from the trailer were still turning up around the city.
Mr Carman’s trombone, which is kept in a rectangle leather case with gold handles, is still outstanding.
He urged everyone to keep an eye out for any musical items that may be dumped around the city.
Anyone with information about the stolen musical instruments is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or Ballarat Police on 5336 6000.
EARLIER | Heartless thieves have stolen more than $100,000 worth of musical equipment the night before the Ballarat Memorial Concert Band was due to perform Christmas carols.
Despite being forced to cancel the first half of their performance in the Bridge Mall on Saturday, the devastating loss of their musical equipment did not stop the band from trying to pick up the pieces and carry on.
It was an all-in effort to pull together enough music sheets and instruments on Saturday morning to ensure the Christmas carols were still heard, even if it was only for the last hour of their set.
The band’s trailer, along with a car, was stolen from outside musical director Wade Carman’s Redan house between 8pm on Friday Night and 6am on Saturday.
Inside the trailer was a number of valuable percussion gear, music stands and original music sheets valued at $100,000.
The theft comes after the latest Crime Statistics revealed Ballarat has one of the highest occurrences of theft of motor vehicle in the state. That number has risen exponentially over the past five years from 643 in the 2011-12 to 1074 between 2014-15.
The week ahead was set to be a busy one for the band who are scheduled to play five performances across the city, including Hop Temple on Wednesday night and the Armstrong Christmas Party on Saturday.
Ballarat Memorial Concert Band musical director Wade Carmen told The Courier on Saturday morning he found it hard to believe why anyone would want to take off with a pink trailer.
“I put a coupling lock on the trailer to stop them stealing it, but they obviously seen that and thought we will take the car and everything,” he said.
“They probably thought there was heaps of PA equipment inside that they could make money out of.
“But most of what they have taken is hard to move.
“My bass trombone is worth nearly $12,000, there are only four in the country. So if they try to sell it anywhere that knows anything about instruments, they’re going to know exactly where it came from.”
With the equipment taken on the cusp of their first Christmas carol performance, Mr Carman said the theft was felt by everyone.
In addition to a number of local organisations lending out musical equipment, more than 30 band members on Saturday morning worked effortlessly to find photocopies of music so they could carry on with their scheduled performances.
“Mostly the issue is the music, we play off originals and what we don’t have in the cupboard we can’t replace that music instantly,” he said.
“But we are determined not to let this stop us.
“We had 50 sets of music stolen, but we have found enough to play 15.”
And for those who stole the trailer and its contents, the band had one message: “please don’t burn it. They don’t want what’s there, just bring it back or let it be found”.
Anyone with information about the pink trailer with the bands logo, or missing 2002 Nissan X-Trail with registration TKL358, is urged to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or Ballarat Police on 5336 6000.
