Band raid.

A retired businessman has had thousands of pounds worth of equipment stolen by thieves posing as roadies for a band.

Peter Thompson was visiting his wife’s house in Eagle, near Lincoln, when he was approached by two men in a white transit van.

The men claimed they were members of indie-rock band Noah and the Whale’s road crew, and were experiencing difficulties with their van while en route to the next date of a European tour.

Mr Thompson allowed the men to store the musical equipment in a shed on his wife’s property while they repaired the van.

The gear included flight cases full of instruments featuring Noah and the Whale branding.

“When the men returned several days later, I gave them the keys so they could load up the van themselves,” explained Mr Thompson.

“They paid me £50 and that was the last I saw of them.

“When I next went to the shed, I found their gear was still there and thousands of pounds worth of my stuff was missing.”

The men had stolen 27 hydrofoils worth a total of £16,060.

Mr Thompson later discovered that the musical equipment had been stolen from the band on Wednesday, September 30, following a gig in Manchester.

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