NJ Man Stole Instruments From Legendary Rockers, Police Say

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — A Pleasantville man has been charged in relation to the theft of two "irreplaceable" instruments from a legendary rock band shortly before their concert in Atlantic City, police said.

Garfield Bennett, 57, stole the rare guitar and mandolin from the band Heart and sold one of them; the whereabouts of the other is unknown, Atlantic City police said in a release. The instruments were stolen from Hard Rock Live at Etess Arena inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the day before Heart was set to perform.

Surveillance video detectives obtained showed Bennett walking through Atlantic City and trying to sell the instruments, police said.

The theft was reported May 30; Bennett was criminally charged on June 4, police said. He was quickly found in the first block of south Kentucky Avenue and taken into custody. He sits in the Atlantic County Justice Facility.

Heart said in a statement earlier this week that the loss of the items was devastating. A custom built, one-of-a-kind purple sparkle baritone Telecaster with a hand-painted headstock crafted specifically for Nancy Wilson was stolen. Also taken was a vintage 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin that band member Paul Moak has played for more than 25 years.

"These instruments are more than just tools of our trade — they're extensions of our musical souls," Wilson said. "The baritone Tele was made uniquely for me, and Paul's mandolin has been with him for decades. We're heartbroken, and we're asking for their safe return — no questions asked. Their value to us is immeasurable." Read more: Legendary Rock Band Says 'Irreplaceable' Instruments Were Stolen From NJ Venue

Anyone who has the instruments is asked to contact Atlantic City police and surrender them immediately. If not, and someone is found in possession of them, they will be arrested and criminally charged with receiving stolen property, police said.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at 609-347-5766 or submit a text anonymously to tip411 (847411). Begin the text with ACPD.