Guitar Stolen Before Heart’s Atlantic City Show Recovered; Mandolin Still Missing

Atlantic City, New Jersey  — Authorities have recovered a rare guitar stolen shortly before the band Heart took the stage at the Hard Rock’s Mark Etess Arena, but the accompanying mandolin remains unaccounted for. Garfield Bennett was taken into custody for breaking into the arena on May 30 and stealing Nancy Wilson’s prized Telecaster guitar along with Paul Moak’s mandolin. After his arrest, Bennett claimed to have sold one instrument but gave no details about the other. Police tracked Bennett through surveillance footage, following him to a woman on Pacific Avenue who received the guitar. Using license plate readers, officers located the vehicle and recovered the guitar after the driver surrendered it voluntarily. The guitar has been returned to Hard Rock representatives and will be given back to the band. Meanwhile, the search for the missing mandolin is ongoing. Bennett remains jailed as his case moves forward. Judge William Miller ordered him held, citing Bennett’s long criminal record and the fact that he was out on release during the theft. Bennett expressed frustration at the ruling and is consulting his lawyer to try to resolve the case without a grand jury. Officials ask anyone with information about the mandolin to call the Atlantic City Police Criminal Investigations Section at 609-347-5766 or submit anonymous tips via text to tip411 by starting with “ACPD.”