Authorities are looking for a thief who stole a U-Haul truck containing thousands of dollars worth of props and equipment belonging to a youth dance group in Riverside.
The young dancers from Depines Dance Space traveled to downtown Los Angeles on April 10th to travel for competition. They arrived the night before and settled down the next day and competed.
The team was staying at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites. Hours before they were set to take the stage, coaches Megan Jenkins and Raven Gant learned that all the props they brought for their performance had been stolen.
Dancers ranging from 4 to 18 years old can be seen at Define Dance Space Studio in Riverside. (Defines a dance space) Holiday Inn Express and Suites Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. (KTLA) Young dancers in the definition of the Riverside dance space can be seen playing with custom-made props and accessories during the competition. (Definition of dance space) Young dancers who define the dance space on the Riverside can be seen playing with custom-made props and accessories during the competition. (Definition of dance space) Young dancers who define the dance space on the Riverside can be seen playing with custom-made props and accessories during the competition. (Definition of Dance Space) Define dance space coaches Raven Gantt (left) and Megan Jenkins (right) and speak to KTLA on April 15th, 2025. (Defines the dance space)
“We have a dedicated family who drives prop trucks over the weekend.
Gantt told U-Haul’s truck could not fit inside the hotel parking lot, so the driver was instructed to park on the street instead.
When they woke up the next morning, the truck was gone. At first they thought it was being towed, but surveillance video from hotel staff confirms that two suspects have broken into the truck before using it to drive, Gantt said.
They escaped with items worth around $15,000, belonging to the dance team. Stolen props included custom sets of welded bleach, chairs, accessories, and more.
“These props are more than just physical items. They represent countless times of hard work, creativity and dedication from young performers and coaches,” the team wrote on its GoFundMe page. “They also represent years of love, dedication and support from the large dance family who have shared the seasons of life with us.”
Without props, young dancers would scramble to relearn their routine a few minutes before they took to the stage. Their coaches said that despite how hard they worked throughout the year, it was heartbreaking for everyone to suddenly theft of their props.
“When they go missing, you have an internal reaction,” Jenkins said. “Yesterday I walked to the studio and it was exactly this real sense of loss.”
The company, which coaches dancers ages 4-18, raises more than $11,000 through its GoFundMe page to help replace losses.
They hope that things can return as normal as possible as possible so that their dedicated dancers can return to focus on the next sport.
“This clearly affects the business, but it does. [the dancers] And they deserve to have this season,” Jenkins said.
A stolen vehicle report was filed with the Los Angeles Police Department as the suspect remains common. The GoFundMe page that supports Define Space Dancers can be found here.
Anyone with suspect or theft information can call LAPD at 1-877-527-3247.
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