Nine guitars and an amplifier where stolen Dec. 11 from Jefferson County Music store, 5714 Old Hwy 21, in Otto, after a front glass door was shattered, store owner Darrell Stiles said.
On Monday (Dec. 17), Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Gary Higginbotham confirmed that nearly $4,800 worth of merchandise was stolen and damage was done to the store.
“We’ve never had a break-in or robbery before,” said Stiles, 57, Hillsboro, on Dec. 13. “We’ve been here almost 32 years. We’ll figure out a way to make it through.”
Stiles said six Michael Kelly guitars, two Cort guitars, a Ventura V-25 red and a VHT 50-watt bass amp were stolen between about 1:30 a.m. and 2 a.m.
The Sheriff’s Office tallied the value of stolen merchandise and damage to the front door at $4,758. The damage to the door was estimated at $450, Higginbotham said.
Stiles said a gas station across the street has surveillance footage from the night the burglary occurred.
“A camera shows someone drive onto my lot about 1:30 a.m.,” Stiles said. “They drove off about 2 a.m. You couldn’t see the make or model on the camera.”
As of Monday, there are no suspects and none of the merchandise has been recovered, Higginbotham said. Anyone with information should call the Sheriff’s Office at 636-797-5515.