Nightmare for Lancaster musicians as instruments stolen on Halloween

Thousands of pounds worth of musical instruments have been stolen from a Lancaster pub.
Jack Spencer and Graham Mumford with the stolen keyboard and guitar.Jack Spencer and Graham Mumford with the stolen keyboard and guitar.
Jack Spencer and Graham Mumford with the stolen keyboard and guitar.

Guitars, amps, a drum kit, and a valuable electric keyboard were among items taken from the John O’ Gaunt pub in Market Street on October 31.

Police were called at around 6.10pm on Halloween.

The instruments and equipment belong to well known musicians and bands in Lancaster, including Lancaster Music Festival organiser Ben Ruth, rock band Dead Man’s Hand, pianist Jack Spencer, drummer Andy Slater and guitarist Graham Mumford.

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It is understood the items were taken from an upstairs room at the John O’ Gaunt.

Lancashire Police say access was gained through an upstairs door.

Claire Tomlinson, landlady at the John O’ Gaunt, said everyone was devastated about the burglary, and appealed for the return of the items immediately.

She said: “We’re just absolutely devastated.

Yamaha Sv-130 violinYamaha Sv-130 violin
Yamaha Sv-130 violin

“I’ve never seen faces look like that before when I told everyone.

“We all just cried.

“This is all our regular acts, it’s their livelihoods.

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“These instruments are highly customised, if they go up for sale, straight away they’re going to be noticed.

Dead Man's Hand on stage at Lancaster Music FestivalDead Man's Hand on stage at Lancaster Music Festival
Dead Man's Hand on stage at Lancaster Music Festival

“I’d appeal for those that stole the instruments to return them now.”

Claire said it looked like the items had been specifically targetted, and nothing else had been taken from the pub.

“They seemed to know exactly what they were doing,” she said.

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“They didn’t come down into the pub and steal anything from here.”

Claire said her boss had driven to Lancaster from Bolton straight away, and offered to pay to replace some of some of the instruments in the short term.

Wellington Grosvenor, from Dead Man’s Hand, said at least 90 per cent of their entire kit had been taken.

A police spokesman said: “Officers have attended and will revisit today as they continue their enquiries.

“No arrests have been made as yet.”

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Items stolen include a red Nord Stage EX76 electric keyboard, a CORT four string acoustic bass, an Applause Balladeer AE28 electro acoustic six string guitar, a Crafter M77E mandolin in soft Crafter case and Yamaha Sv-130 violin in torn blue fabric hard case, 2x d606 Unidirectional drum mics in a blue satchel with two white XLR leads, a foot tambourine and two sawnoff teaspoons, and an Aria, 1988 Elechord 12 string.

Anyone with information should contact Lancashire Police on 101.

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