Bill, Really sorry to read this news. Will also try to monitor ebay and the like to see if they show up. The local pawn shops are a likely source for them to try and get a return on the things taken. Would be good to contact someone who helped organize and run the event who is from the area to make a flyer to hand out to the local pawn shops. Networking is your best chance at this point IMO.

As someone who vends at many highland games and Celtic festivals, can tell you I have never had anything stolen from my vendor's tent or my vehicle. My wife and son play music and we often have some instruments with us. While it is a pain, we always carry them to our room as they mean too much as your son's pipes do to him. Hopefully this ends up well for you.

I do know others who have had similar experiences as your son. Without exception, the thefts have always occurred at the hotel parking lots. Have yet to hear about similar break-ins at a games or festival.

Have made it a habit to leave as little as possible in my vehicle in hotel lots. The cargo vans and box trucks are prime targets for this type of thief. They know when events are in town, the know where the participants are likely to stay, and they know what type of vehicles to look for.

A fellow vendor had his truck stolen from a hotel, in it almost 50K worth of leather goods and tools. Never recovered as they torched the truck. Thankfully insurance did cover most of the losses.