Santa Cruz, CA…In April 2021, SCPD Detectives were contacted by LAPD Headquarters Detectives regarding a theft case where approximately two million dollars in musical equipment and personal belongings were stolen from a storage unit in Marina Del Rey, California. The burglary was discovered in July 2020. In August of 2020, LAPD, Lompoc PD, Redondo Beach PD, and Hawthorne PD arrested several subjects connected with this case and, through the course of the investigation, learned some of the victim’s stolen property was being sold in Santa Cruz through a legitimate online website identified as Reverb.com. SCPD Detectives picked up the case and developed information regarding the possible suspects and locations of where the stolen items were located.

On Tuesday, June 9, 2021, Detectives, with the assistance from members of the SCPD Neighborhood Policing Team and Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team, served search warrants at three different locations within the City of Santa Cruz. The searches included two residences associated to a warehouse located in the 2100 block of Delaware Ave. After all three properties were searched, nine (9) stolen vintage guitars were recovered. The guitars ranged in value from $5,000.00 to $50,000 each, with a combined recovery total of $225,000.00. The guitars consisted of the following make and model:
1958 Gretsch Country Club
1957 Gretsch Country Club
1960 Gretsch Chet Atkins
1959 Rickenbacker Capri
Rickenbacker 12 string
Rickenbacker 12 string
Gibson Chet Atkins Classical Electric
Fender Stratocaster limited release
Hofner 500 Bass

No arrests have been made at this time as it remains unclear how the stolen property came into the possession of subjects associated to the searches. Detectives are actively following up on this case and ask that anyone with information about this case to contact SCPD.