54-40 is offering a $5,000 reward to help retrieve “irreplaceable” instruments stolen in New Westminster overnight.
When the band takes to the stage tonight, they'll be without a number of instruments that were stolen from an 18-foot U-Haul cube van parked in front of Queen’s Park Care Centre (315 McBride Blvd.) last night. The band issued a press this evening stating it is offering a $5,000 reward for the safe return of the equipment or information that leads to the safe return of the equipment.
“54-40 thanks the public in advance for any assistance solving this crime,” said the press release. “The instruments are irreplaceable and hold great value to band members beyond their monetary worth. This weekend’s shows will go ahead as planned.”
According to the press release, the items were stolen sometime between midnight and 9:30 a.m today, following preparations for tonight’s and Saturday’s shows at the Commodore Ballroom. The West Coast rock band, which was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame’s Star Walk in 2017, performs sold-out shows at the Vancouver venue every October.
The band is asking anyone who witnessed suspicious activity or knows anything about the instruments to call the New Westminster Police Department at 604-525-5411 (file 18-19100) and Allen Moy (54-40 management) at 604-761-2025 or [email protected].
The seven stringed instruments stolen are described as:
● 1957 Fender Esquire electric guitar, serial # 20378. Blonde, some wear and finish checking. Back slightly stained with red dye. It’s in a weathered road case
● 1974 Fender Jazz Bass, serial #646897 (black with white pick guard and a maple neck. It’s in a black gator case.
● 1966 Fender Stratocaster, serial #119921 Sunburst, heavy wear. Re-issue tuners and bridge. Straps locks Installed. Routing under pick guard. It’s in a weathered road case.
● 1966 Gibson Trini Lopez Standard. #823870 Cherry, heavy wear. Replaced fretboard and tuners. Strap locks installed. Non-original Bigsby vibrato, previously drilled for a stop tailpiece. It’s in a weathered road case
● 1954 Gibson Florentine Electric Mandolin.#2221 Very rare double cut-away, solid body. It’s in a road case
● Gibson SJ200 acoustic guitar serial # 877023 with aftermarket Fishman sound hole pickup. Some finish checking. It’s in a poly acoustic case.
● Gibson Dove acoustic guitar with aftermarket LR Baggs sound hole pickup. It has average wear and is in a poly acoustic case.
The band, consisting of Neil Osborne, Brad Merritt, Matt Johnson and Dave Genn, is known for hit tunes including I Go Blind, One Day in Your Life, Baby Ran, She La, Casual Viewin’, One Gun, Ocean Pearl, and Love You All.
– Theresa McManus, New West Record
