(Thechieftainspear) – Authorities are on the lookout for individuals who stole a U-Haul truck filled with valuable props and equipment, crucial to a youth dance group’s performance, in Riverside.
The Define Dance Space team had traveled to downtown Los Angeles on April 10 for a highly anticipated competition. They arrived the night before to settle in and prepare for the event.
The team was staying at a Holiday Inn Express & Suites, but hours before the competition began, coaches Megan Jenkins and Raven Gantt received devastating news: the U-Haul truck containing all their performance props had been stolen.
Gantt explained that the dance group has a dedicated team member who drives their prop truck to competitions each weekend. Unfortunately, the U-Haul was too large to fit into the hotel’s parking garage, so the driver parked it on the street.
When they woke up the following morning, the truck was gone. Initially thinking it had been towed, hotel surveillance footage later revealed that two suspects had broken into the vehicle before driving off with it, Gantt said.
The thieves made off with around $15,000 worth of props, including custom welded bleachers, chairs, and various accessories that were essential to the team’s performance.
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In a GoFundMe post, the dance group described the stolen props as more than just physical items. “These props represent countless hours of hard work, creativity, and dedication,” they wrote. “They also hold years of love and support from our extended dance family.”
With no props to perform with, the young dancers were left scrambling to adjust their routines just minutes before taking the stage. Despite their hard work and dedication, the sudden theft left the team devastated.
“It’s a gut-wrenching feeling when they’re just gone,” Jenkins said. “When I walked into the studio, the absence of those props created an overwhelming sense of loss.”
The dance company, which works with young dancers aged 4 to 18, has raised over $11,000 through their GoFundMe campaign to replace the stolen items. The team is hopeful that with this support, they can recover quickly and continue with their competition season.
“Our dancers deserve to finish this season the way it was meant to be,” Jenkins said. “This impacts our business, but it’s the kids who feel the most. They deserve the chance to complete this journey they’ve worked so hard for.”
The Los Angeles Police Department has filed a stolen vehicle report, and the suspects remain at large. Anyone with information about the theft or suspects is encouraged to contact LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.
To support the Define Dance Space team, you can visit their GoFundMe page.
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