Stolen Mandolins Returned to New Jersey Music Shop After Social Media Appeal
A peculiar theft at a New Jersey music store ended unexpectedly this week, after two stolen mandolins were quietly returned days after security footage of the incident circulated online.
The instruments, a Gibson F-12 mandolin and a Weber Yellowstone, were taken earlier this month from Lark Street Music, a long-standing independent shop in Teaneck. Store owner Buzzy Levine noticed the theft when he realized two adjacent spaces on the wall display were suddenly empty, an unusual occurrence for a business that has rarely dealt with theft in its two decades of operation. “I try to keep the walls filled so it’s obvious when something is missing,” Levine said. “When I saw two empty spots next to each other, I knew right away something was wrong.”
The store’s recently installed security cameras captured clear footage of the suspect removing the mandolins and concealing them beneath his jacket before leaving the store. Levine shared the video on Facebook on December 23, asking the public for help identifying the individual and listing the serial numbers of the missing instruments. The post quickly gained traction, spreading beyond the local community.
For several days, the instruments valued at nearly $8,000 combined appeared lost. Then, on December 26, Levine arrived at the shop to find both mandolins placed outside the entrance, accompanied by a handwritten note that read “SORRY, I BEEN DRUNK, MERRY CHRISTMAS. You are good man,”.
Levine said he briefly saw the individual leaving the area but was unable to confront him. “He was much younger than me and moving fast,” Levine said. “By the time I realized what was happening, he was gone.”
While the return of the instruments brought relief, Levine emphasized that the outcome was not the result of chance or seasonal goodwill. Instead, he credited the visibility of the video and the rapid spread of the post online: “It wasn’t a miracle,” he said. “It was accountability. His face was everywhere. Someone recognized him, a friend, a family member, and clearly told him to fix it.”
Local authorities confirmed that returning stolen property does not negate the original offense. As of publication, no arrest has been announced, and Levine said he has not yet decided whether he would pursue charges if the suspect is identified.
Adding another layer to the incident, a local news outlet reported that the man seen in the mandolin theft footage closely resembles a suspect involved in an unrelated theft in the same area earlier that day. Police have not publicly linked the two incidents.
Despite the unusual resolution, Levine expressed gratitude that the instruments were recovered intact and underscored the role social media can play in modern accountability. “Once something like this is out there, you can’t undo it,” he said. “Returning the instruments was the right thing to do, but the situation speaks for itself.”
