Looking for Owl Eyed Guitar After Theft
Can you help this former local? Ian Kelmartin sent us the following after his car was broken into.
My girlfriend and I lived in Arcata, attending HSU, for about 4 years before moving down to the Bay Area for work earlier this year. We were visiting Humboldt for the weekend to celebrate our friend’s completion of her master’s degree, and had a spectacular weekend catching up, enjoying the farmer’s market, and being back in the place that still most feels like home for us.Returning to the Bay this past Sunday, November 5th, we decided to stop for a few minutes at the Federation of Women’s Clubs Grove along the Avenue of the Giants, one of my favorite spots. The gate was closed so we pulled off the side of the road and walked in. When we returned about 30 minutes later (just before 5pm), the driver side rear passenger window was smashed, and my guitar, suitcase (an old piece of Eddie Bauer rolling luggage with a broken handle), a victorinox laptop bag with a macbook air inside, and several other items were stolen. A few pieces of jewelry that have sentimental value to my girlfriend, but are otherwise not worth a whole lot, were also taken. We noticed a suspicious looking, older (80s/90s) white conversion van that seemed to be casing the campground later that evening, but have no idea if it’s related.My much-loved Taylor guitar was as much of a member of the community as I was. As a member of the group “Thursday Night Bluegrass” we played all over the county–countless gigs in the Eureka/Arcata/McKinleyville area, but also parties from Petrolia to Kneeland, a few weddings for our friends at Miranda Gardens, and casual get togethers in the hills of Southern Humboldt.We know that unfortunately this kind of crime happens here, but figured that having our items covered up, on a well-trafficked road, in the daylight, they would be safe enough to allow us a short walk among the redwoods.The guitar itself is Taylor 416ce. One of the more distinctive markings on the instrument is a pair of “owl eyes” in the wood grain on the back of the guitar, clearly shown in the close-up photo of the instrument’s back. The photos are from when the instrument was new in 2011 and it’s been my regular gigging guitar since then, so it is much more worn. It is in a black hard case that is also quite worn. It’s a fairly rare instrument, and one that should still out in a crowd.As much as this sucks, I love humboldt for the community and so far have been touched with how many folks (both known and unknown to me) have been offering their help in recovering the instrument. I especially have to mention Ranger Blair Pubols of California State Parks, who, after taking the police report, brought us up to park headquarters to help us vacuum the glass out of the car and get some cardboard on the window for our drive back to the Bay Area that night.I’m realistic about the chances of recovering the instrument, but am doing what I can to maximize whatever small chance that is. Living in the Bay Area, I can’t do as much of the legwork as I’d like to. I’m really hoping that if anyone sees this instrument around, or has any other information, they will either contact me ([email protected]) or local law enforcement. I’m happy to offer $200 and/or unending gratitude to anyone who can provide information the leads directly to the recovery of the instrument.
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
What a bummer,I use to make them in San Diego. Excellent place to work. Hope they get back.
Check the pawn shops in Klamath…
and how many pawn shops do you think there are in Klamath?
It would be easy to pick it out.
Busting windows and stealing anything/everything. It happens whenever the thief sees something of value. Although they will sometimes break into a trunk most times they won’t. Seeing valuables is the key motivator. And it can be on a busy road in daylight. If you can’t take it with you at least put it in your trunk. Around the Mall is particularly bad. Especially in the back of Walmart.
damn, this is in my neck of the woods– will keep eyes and ears open and see if we can’t get your stuff back, sorry this happened to you, some bad drug addict/alcoholic apples down here, sorry
Thanks Kym!
Good luck!
Way to go Blair!
Nice wood. Very recognizable. fuck ripoffs.
Agreed! So sick of thieves!
Unfortunately, the vac & cardboard thing is probably a daily occurrence for that ranger. 🙁
So that’s what the type of guitar is called! Sort of looks like the little, one-eyed monster, played by Billy Crystal, in the movie, Monster’s Inc. 🤪😂
…But yeah, sucks it got stolen. Sorry.
Read the whole thing, slowly.
Ah ha, again, sorry, trying to cheer up a sad situation.
Eureka pawn shops should be contacted. I hope you get it back.
Well, now you really feel like you’re back home. Bet your guitar beat you back to the Bay Area.
Are you able to use Find my iPhone (or any Apple device) to locate the MacBook? That might help, if you can. From any computer or device, you can log into your iCloud account and see where your things are, provided they’re connected and you enabled the feature.
iCloud.com .
I hope you get it back. What a crappy thing to do, stealing someone’s stuff.
Hi Ian – I handle PR for Taylor Guitars and saw this article pop up in our Google Alerts. Please email [email protected] with the issue so they flag the guitar as “reported stolen” in their owner’s database. This may help if someone tries to sell it down the line. -Alex
Thank you!
Now THAT’s service! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thanks Alex. Always been appreciative of Taylor’s customer service!
Check the place out next to the bar on Main street in Fortuna. They trade for drugs.
This strikes near and dear to my heart. I certainly hope that somehow you get your Taylor back. If a fire came to my house, my cat and 2 guitars are the first things I would grab.
I had my gig guitar stolen years ago, it was heartbreaking. Then an amazing thing happened, I found the electric guitar of my life. She’s been with me ever since.
I was very lucky.