Oregon Music Hall Of Fame: Recovered Stolen Guitars Not Ours

PORTLAND, OR — The Oregon Music Hall of Fame still has something to fret about after saying that dozens of signed guitars that were stolen from them are not the same guitars recovered by Portland Police. Officials say that the different group of stolen guitars were recovered on Tuesday morning.

Police searched a home in Fairview, two storage units in Gresham, and another location in Damascus.

They found what they are "several hundred items of suspect stolen property."

Among the recovered items were:

• a Zodiac brand combat rubber raiding craft with special tools and accessories;
• a Graco Industrial gas airless paint sprayer;
• signed posters, photos, and album covers; and
• more than 30 guitars.

The music memorabilia led PortlandPolice to think that they had recovered the items stolen from the Oregon Music Hall of Fame last month.

On Sunday, February 27, a thief or thieves stole more than 70 guitars – many of them signed by famous musicians such as the Monkees and George Clinton – that the Hall of Fame was preparing to auction off as a benefit for their museum.

It turned out not to be the case.

The Hall of Fame's material was stolen from an exhibit at the Youth Music Project in West Linn. Officials say that group of stolen material is worth an estimated $130,000.

The police have arrested 40-year-old Eric Michael Lamberton who is charged with First Degree Burglary and First Degree Aggravated Theft. The investigation is continuing and could lead to more charges, according to officials.

They hope that someone with information on either theft will contact them at crimetips@portlandoregon.gov.

Police did say that the sprayer, worth about $20,000, has been returned to its owner.