Man Charged With Buying Gear Stolen From Band At Lollapalooza
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Authorities have charged a Back of the Yards neighborhood man with buying the stolen instruments and gear belonging to the psychedelic rock band "Portugal. The Man" at Lollapalooza earlier this month.
Juan Ocampo, 39, of the 4800 block of South Throop Street, as arrested and charged with one count of felony theft after a large amount of stolen property was discovered at his home.
"Portugal. The Man," who are based in Portland, Ore., but are from Wasilla, Alaska, had been playing at the festival when their trailer was stolen from an attended lot in Grant Park.
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Thieves took the band's Red Ford 15 passenger 350 van with a black trailer attached.
Police found the van and trailer Monday night in the 5800 block of South Paulina Street. Everything that had been inside the trailer was gone.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Ocampo, a mechanic and a father of two, bought the $80,000 worth of instruments and gear for $1,000 at the Swap-O-Rama flea market, 4100 S. Ashland Ave. He told authorities he was too "scared" to resell it, but planned to do so in a piecemeal fashion, the Sun-Times reported.
The items stolen from the trailer included seven guitars – including a 1971 Fender Stratocaster – two bass guitars, a banjo, a Hammond organ, a Fender Rhodes electric piano and a Moog synthesizer, among numerous other items.
Ocampo was ordered held on $10,000 bond Tuesday, the Sun-Times reported.
"Portugal. The Man" is scheduled to return to Chicago on Oct. 15 for a show at the Metro.
