Guitar theft ‘Feels like I have lost a piece of my heart’
AMUSICIAN said he has lost “a piece of his heart” after his vintage guitar was stolen when he attended a gig in Bristol.
Tom Lacey, 31, and his friend were at a gig in the city when their van was broken into while parked in St Paul’s late last Friday night.
The van was found with a smashed window and as well as Tom’s guitar, a second guitar, a camera with lenses and a slingshot were also taken. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that the incident happened on Dean Street.
Tom said: “I am a full-time busker and musician and it is difficult without my guitar. It was a one of a kind guitar from Japan and I bought it from someone who owns second-hand guitars.
“When it was stolen, it felt like I had lost a piece of my heart. I hope I can be reunited with it again. As soon as I played it there was a nice pairing, a bond between me and the guitar. It was a beautiful fit and it is massively important to me. It is tricky not having a guitar now that is suited to my music and how I play.”
The guitar is a Grand Suzuki 1973 Gibson Dove copy.
He said since the incident the music community has gathered around him and helped him.
“The response since the guitar was taken has made me feel elated and overwhelmed,” he added.
“I hope I can pass on the good vibes back to everyone. I want to say thank you to the community for all their support and I am grateful for the empathy. I also am a sound therapist and I just want to give back in my own way.”
A GoFundMe was launched after the incident and the total amount asked for has already been raised. Tom said that if the guitar is found, he wants to return the money to everyone, or invest it in free music therapy sessions.
An Avon and Somerset Police spokesperson said: “We were called at 5.50am on Saturday 3 February
to Dean Street in the St Paul’s area of Bristol to a report that a guitar and a slingshot had been stolen from a van at some point during the previous night. If you witnessed
anything suspicious in the area at the time or have any information or CCTV footage which could help our investigation, please call 101 and quote reference 5224029181.”