Three teens were arrested in Greenwich, Connecticut, in connection with the theft of a rare 1947 Martin D-28 acoustic guitar from Music Land in Bel Air, police say. The instrument, valued at about $15,000, has not been recovered, and extradition of the suspects back to Maryland is underway. Authorities identified two of the suspects as 18-year-old Ionut Kenzo Stoica and 19-year-old Milescu Alexa Teodora, both of Roselle, New Jersey; a third teen from Middlesex County is also tied to the case. Investigators say the arrests are one step in a broader probe into possible organized retail theft.
Arrests in Connecticut
According to Daily Voice, arrest warrants were obtained after investigators identified the trio late last month, and Greenwich Police detained three people on March 11. The outlet reports that extradition to Maryland is ongoing while Harford County detectives work to transfer custody. Officials have not recovered the guitar and are coordinating with partners across several states.
What Was Stolen at Music Land
Bel Air police told
the theft happened around 8:20 p.m. on Feb. 3 at Music Land on Gateway Drive, where surveillance video shows four people removing the 1947 Martin D-28 from a display, concealing it, and leaving the store. The guitar has a distinctive crack from past refinishing and an identifiable serial number, 101862, officials said. A February report that flagged the $15K Martin theft first pushed the case out to local readers as police released surveillance images.
Owner Reaction and Reward
Store owner Larry Noto described the scene to WMAR, via Guitar World, saying one person stood watch while others slipped the instrument into a bag and hid it beneath a puffy black coat. Metro Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for tips, according to NottinghamMD, which lists the tip line as 1-866-7-LOCKUP and Case Number 2600027642. Police ask anyone who recognizes the suspects or the guitar to reach out.
Investigators Chase Possible Ring
Officials told Daily Voice the probe has involved law enforcement and private-sector partners in Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, California, Connecticut, Washington, and Pennsylvania, and detectives say they have identified potential ties to other musical-instrument thefts. Investigators are treating the matter as more than an isolated shoplifting incident while they follow leads on where the guitar might have been moved or sold. For now, the instrument remains missing, and the investigation remains active…