Police buy stolen guitar and return it to widow

Joseph Belloise’s Takamine acoustic guitar is back home, courtesy of Boynton Beach police. Joseph Belloise died a year ago at the age of 67, but it holds many memories for his widow, Francesca.

The treasured guitar was among several items taken from her home and car during break-ins about eight months ago. “I never thought I was going to see it again”, she said.

Local police were touched by the case and tracked the instrument down at a pawnshop in Lake Worth and took up a collection to buy back the stolen instrument.

Under Florida law, pawn shop owners can demand payment from crime victims to reclaim their stolen goods, although victims do have recourse by going to court.

Joseph Belloise was an original member of the U.S. Army Special Forces Green Berets and he was the lead guitarist for the Hustlers, the Intruders and the Rondells in the 1960s.

Source: Sun Sentinel