Japanese punk band CHAI launched a GoFundMe campaign after their tour trailer was stolen in Austin, Texas.

The band – who are currently touring North America with Mitski – took to social media on February 27 to break the news, sharing that “three types of costumes and merchandise have gone missing.”

OUR STOLEN TRAILER‼️‼️😭😭😵‍💫😵‍💫😤🥲😩💥💥💥🔥🔥
Three types of costumes and goods disappeared😭
Please help me find💥💥💥
And thank you for the crowdfunding cooperation🥲🙏🏻🌈💖
🥲😢😭☞https://t.co/Sh7PHKgmXr #stolentrailer #whereisourtrailer pic.twitter.com/yusTnSzuqZ

— CHAI Official (@CHAIofficialJPN) February 27, 2022

The GoFundMe page, created by AJ Faber, has a current goal of $50,000, with over $10,000 raised at the time of writing. According to Faber’s description, the band’s stage gear “was stored in the hold of the van”, and that they will continue to tour with Mitski.

However, the stolen trailer housed the band’s personal items, wardrobe, office equipment, GoPro and “ALL THE MERCH”. AJ wrote, “Anyone who knows what it’s like to be a first band knows that’s how you make all your money. They are distraught”.

The trailer was stolen in Austin, Texas at 3:57 a.m. on February 27 by a silver Nissan Pathfinder. The trailer was parked at a multi-hotel complex at the time, but local authorities say ‘all traffic cameras in the area have been turned off and they cannot make out the license plate of the vehicle driving it. ‘stolen’, and that there is ‘no hope of getting it back’.

The band joked on social media in Japanese, “I’m going to have a great live concert. If you find a trailer, let me know”.

CHAI – who released the ‘WINK TOGETHER’ EP earlier this month – will open for Mitski’s ongoing ‘Laurel Hell’ tour through March 10, followed by a series of solo shows at the United States until March 17.

“WINK TOGETHER” is made up of six remixes from their May 2021 album, “WINK.” The album, the band’s third, received four stars from NMEwith Rhian Daly writing, “CHAI’s latest album may arrive just as the world begins to open up, but it will continue to provide reassurance and relief long after the pandemic era is over.”