Beat Union's Stolen Van Returned

09/04/08 1:32pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

It's a story you almost never hear: A band's tour van is stolen... and returned.

It happened to Beat Union this week, and they probably like dogs a little bit more now, since one is partially responsible for the return of their stolen vehicle.

Beat Union's red Ford Econoline and an eight-metre trailer attached to it were stolen in Edmonton on Saturday. Police started chasing the man who was suspected of stealing it in the wee hours of the morning, and the chase ended after a police dog named Knight latched on to him. The band's van and trailer were returned to them, but the damage to the trailer meant Beat Union had to cancel a few dates and will rejoin tour mates Bedouin Soundclash on Friday.

The band also discovered the thieves had taken two passports, a motor scooter, cameras and a guitar from the trailer, and replaced them with several crack pipes and used condom wrappers.

"They just kept driving it at high speed and smashed it until the back wheels came off," crew member Chris Warsop told the Edmonton Sun.

"The trailer's in very bad shape. The van itself is a little bit battered up, but it's driveable."

Beat Union have a few more Canadian dates scheduled as part of their North American tour. You can see them here:

Sept. 5 Sudbury, ON @ Great Hall (Laurentian University) w/Bedouin Soundclash
Sept. 6 Waterloo, ON @ Wilfrid Laurier University Athletic Complex w/Bedouin Soundclash
Sep. 9 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern w/Afterbeat, Mark Bragg, Bury The Bully and Gruve
Sept. 10 Guelph, ON @ The Shadow
Sept. 11 London, ON @ The Salt Lounge w/Down With Webster and Walk Off The Earth
Oct. 13 Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall Ballroom w/Flogging Molly
Oct. 14 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom w/Flogging Molly