By Spencer Sterritt

Rare and eye-catching guitars stolen from Nanaimo music shop

Nov 27, 2017 | 4:11 PM

NANAIMO — If you see a guitar in the shape of a map for sale online, be sure to call police instead of calling the number on the ad.

The 1962 National Westwood 77 guitar, shaped like a map, was one of many guitars stolen from Arbutus Music in north Nanaimo on Sunday, Nov. 26.

“That one’s super rare. You never see them,” Arbutus Music owner Richard Leighton told NanaimoNewsNOW on Monday. All of the guitars were his, stolen after someone broke through their walls. “If they do show up, I’m pretty sure the pawn shops are going to have a hard time even figuring out what they are. And they usually phone me.”

Leighton said it’s likely the thieves weren’t guitar aficionados since they stole some expensive guitars and some which only cost a few hundred dollars. Those taken from the room included several limited editions, one which was of a select run of less than 200 and a 1959 guitar which Leighton said was his favourite.

“If I could take one guitar and had to get rid of all the others, that would probably be the one I keep.”

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Despite the elaborate nature of the crime, breaking into the store by smashing a hole in the wall and climbing through, Leighton said he wasn’t surprised after years of increasing security at his store.

“You can only go so far,” he said. “If they want it they’ll come in, unfortunately. They don’t care, they don’t have a conscience of what they’re doing to you or your place of business.”

He’d already installed thick glass and then bars over the glass to stop people from shattering it when they tried to break in and now chains up the store every night. Since the theft, Leighton said they’ve boost security inside the store as well and added cameras into small rooms, not just the main show room.

Though the thieves weren’t caught on camera, Leighton said he’s optimistic they’ll be caught. Several credit cards were taken from the store as well and Leighton said bank records show the cards being used for a “shopping spree” at Wal-Mart and ATM’s around town.

Nanaimo RCMP confirmed they’re investigating the break and enter.

spencer@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @spencer_sterrit