The offenders used a large blue Mercedes Sprinter van to remove the equipment from the premises; the van was last seen driving through Clevedon at approximately 3.30am, believed to be heading towards Portishead and possibly the M5 motorway.
A majority of the stolen lighting equipment was, at the time, on hire from Norwich stage lighting company Viking Stage Lighting. Some of the equipment stolen included expensive Robe Colourspot 1200, Robe Colourwash 575 AT Zoom, and Robe Colourwash 250 AT moving head fixtures. The lights would have been stored in, predominantly, light blue flight cases with the Viking Lighting logo screen printed on the sides.
Also stolen at the same time was equipment belonging to local Clevedon lighting company Fineline - this included City Color washlights, which were stored in grey and red flightcases, again clearly marked with the Fineline logo.
The Police are interested in speaking with anyone in the professional lightting industry who may have been offered such equipment, for sale, since the theft.
Viking Lighting has put up a reward, through Crimestoppers, of £5000 for any information resulting in the recovery of their stolen equipment.
Any information can be passed on to the Police anonymously through the Crimestoppers National Helpline number: 0800 555 111. Alternatively, please contact DC 2846 Steve Webb, Weston-super-Mare CID, Tel: 0845 456 7000.
(Claire Beeson)
