Thieves steal Pike Street Drummer's van with drums, hot sauce inside
Seattle's 'Pike Street Drummer' seeks stolen van
Chris Anderson, the Pike Street Drummer, left his newly purchased van in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. When he came back a few hours later, it was gone.
UPDATE (1/23):
SEATTLE - The van has been found!
Pike Street Drummer's van found after thieves strip it for parts
A King County man whose van was stolen with $10,000 worth of hot sauce inventory and drum equipment inside says the vehicle was found in White Center, stripped of its battery and catalytic converter and heavily damaged inside.
King County Sheriff's deputies located Anderson's van in White Center after a woman who watched the news saw it parked near her home and called police.
However, the van's battery and catalytic converter were stolen, and the inside was a mess. Regardless, Anderson said he's grateful for the community helping him find it.
"Without the community out here in the greater Seattle area, we wouldn't have been able to find this van, and we really do appreciate you guys," Anderson said.
Anderson plans to use the donations made off GoFundMe to rebuild his hot sauce inventory and buy a new drum set. He also hopes the woman who spotted his van will reach out to him so he can thank her with some hot sauce.
ORIGINAL STORY (1/21):
The Pike Street Drummer is hopeful the community can help find his stolen van that had his drums and a month’s-worth supply of his brand's hot sauce inside.
Chris Anderson is the Pike Street Drummer.
As a percussionist, he has become a staple outside of Mariners and Seahawks games over the last few years.
Inspired by not using profanity
The backstory:
Anderson is also one of the co-founders of Sheeesh Hot Sauce, named after his mom’s avoidance of using profanity when he was growing up.
"If she stubbed her toe, she would be like, ‘Spider legs’, or ‘Sheesh,’" said Anderson.
Anderson tells FOX 13 Seattle that he parked his van in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, and when he came back to the spot where he left it, the van was gone.
"Somebody’s got all my drums, all my hot sauce. I hope whoever has it tries the ghost pepper first," said Anderson.
Blue van belonging to "Pike Street Drummer" Chris Anderson.
Anderson said he called police, and he called tow yards multiple times, but still found no luck.
"At that point, I knew it was stolen," said Anderson.
A small fortune in loss
By the numbers:
Anderson estimates that with the combination of a month’s worth of hot sauce supply, his drum set, generator, amplifiers, laptop, and other marketing resources for his business, as well as the cost of the van (which he just bought two weeks before the theft) he is out about $15,000.
"You see this big blue cargo van, there’s not that many of them, that’s definitely our van," said Anderson.
A call to the community
What you can do:
On top of the impact to his hot sauce business, Anderson is missing out on the chance to drum during the most exciting time in Seahawks football history in years.
He is hopeful that sharing his story will help get his van back.
Anderson has created an online fundraiser to recoup the losses.
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The Source: Information in this story comes from original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle reporter AJ Janavel.