LINCOLN SQUARE — The Old Town School of Folk Music has been a Chicago institution for many decades, which is why the recent brazen theft of drums from the school was "disappointing," according to the school's equipment manager.
A thief made off with a bass drum, floor tom and two rack-mounted toms from a "fairly nice pearl kit" valued between $500 to $1,000 last Saturday night, said Eric Unger, 34, the school's equipment manager. He was caught on tape and screenshots were posted to Facebook, hoping to identify the thief.
"The guy seemed like he was hanging around all day, dressed nicely, almost as if he was trying to convey that he was playing a show or something like that," said Unger, of Logan Square.
"He was talking to people, trying to ingratiate himself," he added. The school was hosting a jug band concert that night.
The plot seemed to work because the thief grabbed a pullcart from the school, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave., loaded up the drums, took them down an elevator and eventually left in a white Toyota sedan with "90s style" gold trim, Unger said.
Though he's worked at the school for 10 years, he said this theft was more "brazen" than past thefts, which have targeted hardware or cymbals, things that are less bulky and heavy.
"There's so many people coming and going ... so it's kinda hard to know" who belongs and who doesn't, Unger said. "This was so brazen that people will kinda not question what's happening."
He added, "Old Town School wants to be an open and welcoming place. We do our best to provide equipment in classrooms, but it's a balance, with security."
Unger says the school plans to file a police report this weekend. If you have any information to share, please call the Old Town School of Folk Music at 773-728-6000.
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