Police said Tuesday they retrieved the Telecaster guitar from a woman who bought it from the theft suspect.
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — On Tuesday, Atlantic City authorities announced they had recovered one of the two invaluable musical instruments belonging to the rock band Heart, which were taken from a local venue two weeks prior, just as the band was preparing for their upcoming national tour.
According to the police, they managed to recover the Telecaster guitar from a woman who had purchased it from the alleged thief. However, a rare 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin is still missing.
The purple sparkle baritone Telecaster guitar with a hand-painted headstock was custom-made for band member Nancy Wilson.
Investigators report that surveillance footage captured the suspect handing the Telecaster to a woman, who then placed the instrument in her car, parked a short distance from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the location of the theft.
Police then used automated license plate readers to identify the vehicle, track its location and contact the owner, who voluntarily surrendered the guitar, police said. The person she allegedly bought it from has been charged with burglary and theft.
Still missing is the mandolin that band member Paul Moak has played for over 25 years.
The band’s gear was set up at the Hard Rock Hotel on May 30 because it was set to kick off the An Evening With Heart tour there the next day.
Wilson and her sister, Ann, lead Heart and have made music together since the 1970s, with hits including “Magic Man,” “Crazy on You” and “Alone.” The Rock & Roll Hall of Famers were honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy in 2023.
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