Police in California have recovered a stolen van veteran rockers A Flock Of Seagulls were using to store touring equipment, but the instruments and gear in the vehicle are still missing.

The Transfer Affection hitmakers lost $70,000 (£46,670)-worth of gear and computer files for frontman Mike Score's upcoming solo album early on Sunday (21Jul13), when a thief broke into the rental vehicle as the bandmates slept in between California area shows and drove off.

Cops have since located the van, but it had been cleared out and nothing was left inside.

Score tells CNN, "The van itself was found, but all the gear was taken. The van was empty."

However, the singer is confident the group's missing keyboard, two Fender Aerodyne Telecaster electric guitars and a customised drum kit, among other items, will be found as soon as the thief attempts to sell off the goods - because they've recruited friends and fans across the world to keep a look out for the stolen goods.

He says, "The word... is out and we have lots of other band members scouring eBay and (listings website) Craigslist for signs of the equipment."

Detectives are currently scouring the van for fingerprints and other evidence in a bid to track down the culprit.

They have also retrieved surveillance footage from the hotel parking lot, where the van was stolen, to help them crack the case.