BEL AIR, Md. — Three suspects, including one juvenile, have been arrested in connection with the theft of a rare $15,000 guitar from Music Land in Bel Air, the Bel Air Police Department reported.
The adult suspects are 18-year-old Ionut Kenzo Stoica and 19-year-old Milescu Alexa Teodora, both from Roselle, New Jersey. The juvenile suspect is from Middlesex, New Jersey; their identity is withheld under Maryland law.
Despite the arrests, the stolen 1947 Martin D-28 guitar has not yet been recovered.
According to police, four individuals entered Music Land, located at 200 Gateway Drive, at approximately 8:20 p.m. on Feb. 3. Surveillance footage shows the male suspect climbing onto a stool to remove the guitar from a display. He then handed it to one of the female suspects, who concealed it in a large bag hidden beneath a long black puffy jacket. The group left the store without paying. No employees were confronted or injured.
A multi-jurisdictional investigation, involving agencies across Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, California, Connecticut, Washington, Pennsylvania, and federal partners, led to the identification of three of the four suspects by Feb. 27. Arrest warrants were obtained, and the suspects were apprehended by the Greenwich Police Department in Connecticut on March 11. They are currently being extradited to Maryland.
Bel Air police say the suspects may be connected to other theft investigations involving musical instruments in Maryland and New Jersey, potentially linked to an organized retail theft ring.
The stolen Martin D-28 guitar has distinctive cracking on the back from prior refinishing and a unique serial number, 101862, which can confirm ownership if recovered. Police continue to investigate and seek public assistance in locating the instrument.
