Music student’s nightmare as £6k instruments stolen

Two trumpets and a cornet taken as car broken into near Royal Northern College of Music

ASTUDENT musician has been left in a ‘nightmare situation’ after a thief smashed into his car and made off with instruments worth £6,000.

Sam Lovatt, 23, had left the instruments on the back seat of his car for 45 minutes while going into the Royal Northern College of Music on Oxford Road to print off sheet music. The second year student had parked his car on Rosamund Street at 4.15pm on Wednesday, June 3. When he went back to his car at 5pm, his window had been smashed and two trumpets and a cornet stolen.

Sam, of White Lady Close, Worsley, said: “I just ran into the college to get some pieces of sheet music.

“When I came out I knew straight away what had happened, my heart dropped. Everything had gone off the back seat.”

Sam said that the theft has left him struggling to support himself and has also thrown doubt over forthcoming music exams at the college.

He added: “It is an absolute nightmare. I couldn’t afford to insure them and I don’t come from a welloff family so I cannot replace them.

“I’m meant to have a recital at the college on June 17. Trying to lend and learn new instruments before that is a nightmare.

“I’m also struggling to support myself as I do freelance work playing at functions and gigs and I’m unable to do that.

“I live with my partner and we share the rent and bills and it was a struggle last year, let alone without the instruments.”

Sam has since been inundated with support on Facebook, having had a post about the theft shared hundreds of times.

He said: “The level of support has been overwhelming. One man from Nottingham has seen the post and has offered to give me his trumpet, which is really kind.

“It is very humbling to see that there are still some nice people in this world.”

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “The offender has approached a vehicle on Rosamund Street between 4.15pm and 5pm and smashed the rear window and taken the items before running off.

“Enquiries are ongoing at the moment and anyone with any information is urged to get in touch.”

Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

‘My heart dropped. Everything had gone from the back seat’