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Ocean Alley Member Caught Shoplifting In NZ

Ellie Robinson

“My actions do not reflect on how we carry ourselves as a band,” he said in a public apology.

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Ocean Alley keyboardist Lachlan Galbraith has shared a public apology after he was caught stealing a drink bottle lid in New Zealand.

SEE MORE: Ocean Alley @ Red Hill Auditorium, Perth (Live Gallery)

As reported by 7 News, Galbraith stole the YETI branded bottle lid – valued at $17.95 – from Hunting & Fishing Queenstown last Sunday (December 31). The minor theft was caught on CCTV, with a screenshot posted to the store’s social media platforms later that same day.

In a Facebook post that since been deleted, the store wrote: “Good to see the fellas in town for their performance at [the Rhythm & Alps festival] tonight. Unfortunately, it looks like there was just a little too much ‘Confidence’ in-store today... We realise hydration is important, so no worries, but please feel free to return the [YETI] Chug cap back before you leave town tomorrow. All the best for 2024 and the tour ahead.”

The store later shared an update, confirming the band had reached out to make amends. Galbraith also shared a public apology in an Instagram Story, expressing regret for his “act of complete foolishness”. He said: “It is a moment I am not proud of at all, and one that I have deep regret and remorse for. I have reached out to the team directly and we have rectified the situation.

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“I am so sorry for disappointing all of our fans, the team at the store, and of course the band. My actions do not reflect on how we carry ourselves as a band.”

Fans have leapt at the opportunity to rip on Galbraith in Ocean Alley’s Instagram comments. In a post promoting their upcoming tour of the UK, one commenter wrote: “Don’t forget your charger or anything, otherwise you’ll have to get old mate to pop into Apple and slip one into his bag before slinking out of the store.”

“Imagine all the other shit the dog has stolen,” another commenter wrote on a post plugging the band’s impending North American tour.

Towards the end of year, Ocean Alley enjoyed a huge mainstream resurgence when their 2018 hit Confidence (the song referenced by Hunting & Fishing Queenstown) went viral on TikTok. By the start of December, it had soared back into the ARIA Top 20.