WLD my experience was completely different. I got burgled a few years ago and amongst other things my Telecaster was stolen. I rang round all the music shops/second hand shops in the area, with a description, and it turned up that very afternoon! The police fetched it back for me, unmarked except for some fingerprint powder.

And a friend of mine had her electric fiddle stolen, but did the same thing (contacted all the shops) and it was recovered a couple of counties away. It is possible - and more likely if you've got some evidence of proof, (a note of the serial number, some photographs etc).

I was actually broken into a few months ago, and the burglars stole the phones, computers, purses, handbags, the cash and the car, but they didn't touch any of the instruments (which I keep out on stands). I guess the thief thought it'd be too hard to fence them, compared to the other stuff. I was brassed off at losing the other stuff, but you can replace things like phones and computers a hell of a lot easier than you can replace a mandolin, for instance!