Break-in leaves non-profit for young musicians without thousands of dollars worth of instruments

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Some young musicians are practicing without a fourth of their equipment, thanks to thieves. A storage unit break-in left a non-profit without thousands of dollars worth of instruments.

Percussion One has a two big events this coming weekend. Thursday is their day to practice, and they're making changes, sidelining bandmates all because of what they call selfish thieves.

Practice for the Percussion One on Thursday team wasn't as loud as it once was.

"It means everything to me," bank member Juan Rojas said.

"Not everyone will get to play. We'll have to share drums," band member Maddie Fiek said.

Last week, the group's founder Lamar Burkhaulter hitched the team's storage trailer to practice, and when he opened it up, he was stunned.

"Trailer was empty to about where that bungee cord stops. Usually it would be full to the very back," Burkhaulter said.

Two snare drums worth $2,800, along with a pair of tenor sets worth $4,600 were taken. A base drum and crash symbols also are all gone; they're valued at about $10,000.

"It's been 20 years in the making to get these instruments acquired," Burkhaulter said.

The trailer was parked at a AAA storage lot on Highway 290 near Huffmiester Road, where it usually is, when the team isn't practicing.

"I had it backed up far enough where they couldn't open the door into the fence," Burkhaulter said.

The thieves cut the metal fence, the lock on the trailer door and took the drums.

"For them to take our stuff is like taking away -- it's like they're being selfish," Rojas said.

Chances of getting the instruments back are slim. The storage facility did not have surveillance video, and investigators have few leads, if any.

"They're not taking from us, but they're taking from the whole Houston community," Fiek said.

Percussion One performs for the Houston Texans. They've also performed for some big music acts like Keith Urban and Shania Twain.

If you know anything about this crime, contact the Harris County Sheriff'S Office.