$1K Of Instrument Parts Taken From Delco School: State Police

GLEN MILLS, PA — Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the purported sabotage of a Delaware County student musician's instrument.

According to state police, about $1,000 worth of trumpet pieces were stolen from a locker at Garnet Valley High School in Glen Mills back in September.

The victim, 17, found their Yamaha Trumpet was tampered with and had several pieces removed from it on Sept. 22. Taken were valve slides and caps valued at $1,000, according to police.

The instrument was stored in its case inside a shared locker room near the band room, and both the case and locker were unlocked.

Authorities said the victim believes that two fellow bandmates tampered with and removed several pieces from the trumpet that made the musical instrument unusable. The victim alleged this happened because they were awarded a leadership position in the school band the prior year and some bandmates believed it was unearned, police said.

This led to tension all throughout the school year until the victim discovered the missing items, police said.

Troopers spoke with the "involved parties," who told them they did not know who took the victims' items and said they were not involved.

Pennsylvania State Police said the case was closed due to a lack of identifiable suspect information, a lack of witnesses, and a lack of surveillance footage.