Heart

By Sam Barron From Daily Voice

A 57-year-old Pleasantville man was arrested and charged on Wednesday, June 4, with stealing two instruments from the trailblazing rock band Heart while they were preparing for their show at the Etess Arena at the Hard Rock Atlantic City last weekend, authorities said.

Nancy Wilson, who co-founded the band with her sister Ann, said on Instagram that the instruments are irreplaceable. 

Surveillance video showed Garfield Bennett walking through various parts of Atlantic City attempting to sell the instruments, which he stole on Friday, May 30, authorities said. 

 The missing items include a custom-built, one-of-a-kind purple sparkle baritone Telecaster with a hand-painted headstock, crafted specifically for Nancy Wilson and a vintage 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin that band member Paul Moak has played for more than 25 years.

Bennett sold one of the instruments and the whereabouts of the other is unknown, police said.

"These instruments are more than just tools of our trade - they're extensions of our musical souls," said Nancy. "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."

Any individual in possession of these stolen items is urged to contact the Atlantic City Police Department and voluntarily surrender the instrument, police said. If not surrendered, and the individual is located in possession of the stolen items, they will be arrested and criminally charged with receiving of stolen property., police warned.