Overview
- Garfield Bennett, 57, was arrested on June 4 and charged with burglary and theft after police matched surveillance footage linking him to the May 30 heist at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
- The stolen gear comprised Nancy Wilson’s custom-built purple sparkle baritone Telecaster and Paul Moak’s vintage 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin, both integral to the band’s performances
- Investigators allege Bennett attempted to sell the instruments across Atlantic City and managed to dispose of one before authorities intervened
- Heart described the missing items as irreplaceable extensions of their musical souls, highlighting the instruments’ vast sentimental and professional significance
- Bennett’s extensive criminal record includes a burglary arrest in April, and police continue to search for the unaccounted instrument