At approx. 2pm on Friday 19th May, five acoustic guitars were stolen from a Mercedes splitter van on the car park of The Bridgewater Hotel, Worsley, Gtr Manchester. What is believed to be a white Transit van pulled alongside the van and took less than a minute to take the guitars and make off.

MARTIN, Model = D18 (1954), serial number D18#1503010
This is pretty battered and has a hole in it the size of a 10p that has been patched. It has a Fishman rare earth pick-up across the soundhole.

ANDY MANSON, Model = MAGPIE1, serial number 970508
Dark brown/crimsony-red sunburst

FYLDE, Model = custom built, serial number 3733

CHRIS ECCLESHALL, Model = custom built, serial number 900
This is natural wood colour with mahogany neck and rosewood binding. This has a Fishman rare earth pick-up across the soundhole

Avalon
Unfortunately at this stage we do not have a serial number for the Avalon, which was a regular production model circa three years old.

All the guitars were taken in black Hiscox liteflite cases. There were Shure radio packs in each case and straps but these may have been discarded.

If you come across any of these guitars or have any information that may lead to their recovery, please report it to Gtr Manchester police on 0161 872 5050, crime number 135272C06.

These guitars, whilst highly valuable, are priceless to their devastated owners and no amount of insurance will replace them.

Can you forward this message on to anybody that you think it would be relevant to, predominantly concentrating on the Merseyside and Greater Manchester areas. Thanks for any help that you may be able to give.