Les Edwins, a popular Bay Area musician, was left "devastated" when his van containing $10,000 worth of musical equipment was stolen from his Antioch home on July 27, 2023, crippling his ability to make a living through his street performances at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf.

Edwins said the stolen items included his drum set, seat throne, stands, kick pedal, computer, speakers, microphones, cables, mixer, and generator. The theft occurred just before 3:30 a.m., with the perpetrator managing to steal the van from Edwins' driveway without making enough noise to alert him. The musician realized the van was gone when he looked outside and told his neighbor, "Man, my van is gone," as reported by NBC Bay Area.

In response to this misfortune, the Fisherman's Wharf community and well-wishers from far and wide have rallied in support of Edwins. A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the drummer purchase another vehicle and drum set to continue his work. By the morning of July 31, the campaign had raised more than $14,954, including a generous $2,000 donation from an anonymous donor.

Randall Scott, executive director of the Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District, highlighted Edwins' importance to the area, saying, "Les has been around the wharf longer than I have. He's a fixture there. People actually come just to listen to him. So, it's a sad day for Les and it's a sad day for the wharf," as mentioned in NBC Bay Area.

Investigators are now reviewing a neighbor's surveillance footage that captured the van theft and a blue car that appears to have been circling the block beforehand. Les Edwins filed a report with the Antioch Police Department, but as of now, the van and the equipment have not been found, per KRON 4.

As residents and fans of Les Edwins continue to rally in solidarity, one hopes for a positive resolution that will allow him to return to his familiar spot at Pier 45, doing what he loves - making people happy with his music.