Sunrise news crew robbed live on air while reporting on soaring crime rates

A Seven journalist was reporting on soaring crime rates in the area when his team became victims themselves.

A Seven reporter and his camera crew have been robbed live on air during a cross about rising crime rates in the area.

Hayden Nelson was speaking on Sunrise earlier this week when a man walked past and stole one of the team’s lights in Adelaide’s Rundle Mall.

Prior to taking their equipment, he’d appeared to casually greet them – and then managed to sneak off without anyone noticing.

Seven reporter Hayden Nelson. Picture: Seven

Nelson and his crew realised there’d been a theft once they’d gone off air.

“After the cross, he’s gone to check on the light — the stand was still there but the light itself has vanished,” he later told 7News.

“So we were both scratching our heads about how a light can go missing.”

Police are hoping to speak to this man. Picture: SA Police

The journalist added that they’d seen the man but hadn’t thought anything of it.

“When you’re about to go live, you’ve got an earpiece in with your director talking to you, and the sound of the presenters, you’ve got lights blaring at you,” Nelson said, adding that the equipment would be useless to the thief anyway.

“To operate it they would need a broadcast-quality battery that you can only get in the industry and it also requires a unique charger.”

South Australian police have since released a photo of a man who they believe may be able to assist with their investigation, and are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Sunrise news crew robbed live on air while reporting on soaring crime rates