Bands can't afford to have somebody watch their van or trailer at all times. I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often than it already does. It happened to Portugal. The Man a couple years ago. Whoever stole their instruments also must have grabbed their talent because I haven't seen that it a while either.

Not saying this is what happens all the time, but I watch a show about repo men and on one of the episodes they repossessed a country singer's tour bus while he was doing his soundcheck. They didn't bother to allow anyone to take gear off the bus so that all went too, though perhaps they got it back later. Either way, I think it's a scummy thing to do; they basically killed the guy's ability to make money and therefore his ability to repay what he owed.

But that's ****ing banks for you. They don't give a ****. It's unlikely any of these bands had hired their equipment and failed to make payment, but it could be happening in the odd case.

I've heard about this a lot in recent years, too. As has been said throughout the thread though, it is most likely because of social media that you're hearing about it so much. You're just more aware of it.

I know I have heard of several bands in the country/americana/whatever scene getting **** stolen in recent years, though.

It happened to Keith Richards back in 1971.