03-06-2025
Albuquerque community helps band recover stolen trailer
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The show will go on for a band traveling through Albuquerque who had their trailer, full of equipment and merchandise, stolen. But the power of social media and the Albuquerque community helped them get it back.
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British-American trio Raynes made their 18th stop on tour in Albuquerque this past weekend. After a successful show at Revel on Saturday night, things hit a sour note. 'The next morning, I went out to the vehicle and noticed the trailer was just missing, vanished,' said Joe Berger, a member of Raynes.
He let his bandmates know the trailer was stolen from their hotel parking lot in the University area. 'Our whole livelihood is in the back of this trailer. All of our instruments, all of our merch that we sell at our shows, literally everything that we have is contained in that trailer,' said Mark Race, the lead singer of Raynes.
The band searched around town and also put out a call on social media. They posted a video letting the public know what happened and asking for the community's help. The video spread fast and led to a Facebook message from a local saying the trailer had been spotted.
'I said send me photo, and sure as heck that was it,' said Berger.
The band met police at the location of the trailer and got even better news. All that was taken was a mandolin, banjo, and what must've been a good pair of snakeskin boots. 'We opened it and by golly, everything, almost everything, was still in the trailer. We did not expect the trailer, much less anything in it,' said Berger.
While some locals were in the comments bashing Albuquerque for the theft, some calling it 'typical Albuquerque' and an 'embarrassment,' for the band Raynes, the Land of Enchantment still lives up to its name. 'Every band this happens to at least once. It's not just in Albuquerque, it's all over the place,' said Mat Charley, band member of Raynes. 'We had a really phenomenal show, like the night before, one of our favorite of the tour and met a bunch of great people.'
And it was those people in the Duke City that helped Raynes get back on the road with their trailer and ready for their next show. 'A massive thank you to everyone that did help. Because without their help we would've never have found this and we would've found ourselves in a much, much worse situation,' said Race.
KRQE News 13 reached out to the Albuquerque Police Department to see if any arrest was made, but did not hear back. The band said they are going to stay somewhere safer next time they come to Albuquerque and are looking into getting AirTags for their trailer.
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