Signed White Stripes Guitar Stolen

A guitar worth £15,000 signed by the White Stripes frontman Jack White has been stolen from a studio in east London.

Paul Biver from Old Street had been storing the Fender guitar in his art studio while he built a display case for it when it was stolen.

Thieves also took a television and computer from the studio in Sara Lane Court, Hoxton.

The burglary happened between 2000 GMT on 23 January and 0930 the next day.

The 37-year-old set designer said he had received the guitar from a friend for helping him to transform his barge.

“A friend of mine collects rock memorabilia and had asked me to help transform his barge but then ran out of money, so I asked if I could have the guitar as payment,” he added.

“That was three years ago so obviously it has just increased in value since then.

“I don’t normally store it in my design studio but was making a case for it so was gutted when I realised it had been taken.”

Police described the Jack White guitar as rare and appealed for anyone with any information to come forward.

Det Con Suzanne Raftery said they believed more than one person was involved due to the size of the equipment stolen.

“I am appealing to members of the public to come forward if anybody has tried to sell them this rare autographed Jack White guitar.”

White, 35, who grew up in Detroit, is best known as the guitarist and lead vocalist of the recently disbanded White Stripes.

A record producer and occasional actor, he is married to Oldham model Karen Elson with whom he has two children.

Source: BBC