The unique guitar – a replica Gibson 335 – was stolen from the school’s music room last week, sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.
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It was on loan to a teacher and was a gift from the owner’s now deceased grandfather.
Constable Steven Gay said police are continuing to investigate the break and enter.
“We believe the guitar was stolen somewhere between 5.10pm when the music teacher left the classroom and 9am when the teacher returned to the classroom,” he said.
“This was the same night that a basketball game was held at the school.
“We believe the person in question has entered either the eastern or southern window of the room.
“We have now fingerprinted both these windows,” he said.
The custom-built guitar had silver hardware, a black pick protector and Les Dorahy written on the headstock.
It was in a black case with a white “this mess” sticker on it.
Constable Gay said the guitar is expensive but warns thieves that its uniqueness will make it difficult to on sell.
“If the guitar is returned there will probably be no action take and we would encourage anyone who has the guitar to return it to Bombala Police,” he said.
“Because of the sentimental value of the guitar we would like to see it returned safely to its owner.”
Police, however, will continue their investigations and once they get the results from the fingerprints will take legal action.
Bombala High School’s relieving principal Barry Atkinson said the school is deeply saddened by the theft.
“It’s like we’re mourning the loss of something significant at the school, it’s a loss of trust within the community and the students are feeling it too,” Mr Atkinson said.
“This guitar was loaned to a teacher and was a gift from the owner’s now deceased grandfather,” he said.
“It is sad that someone would take such a treasured item from someone else.
“At this stage we don’t believe it to be a student that has taken the guitar because we feel that the students at our school very much respect the music equipment and there was more expensive equipment in the room than that guitar.
“We have, however, asked students if they know anything about the theft to come forward and tell police,” he said.
