Thieves who stole £900 electric guitar in Ilfracombe may have been targeting blind man

POLICE believe callous thieves may have targeted a blind man in Ilfracombe for the fourth time in three weeks.

This time a guitar worth £900 with huge sentimental value was stolen from a house Connor had been staying at.

Harvey Hudson playing his beloved guitar which has been stolen from a property in Ilfracombe
The electric guitar worth around £900 which was stolen in Ilfracombe

The guitar’s owner, Harvey Hudson, 20, thinks Connor is being targeted because of his disability and has pleaded with the culprits to return his beloved instrument.

Last week the Journal reported how artist and musician Connor Mackay, 39, had lost almost all his possessions after two burglaries at his Chandlers Way flat last month.

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He also had his laptop stolen while catching a bus home from Petroc where he is studying for a fine art degree.

North Devon Sector Inspector Roger Bartlett described the crimes as sickening and said it was likely Connor was targeted due to his disability.

But now police say thieves have struck again, but this time it was at Matt Hyder’s house on Station Road where Connor had been staying since the burglaries at his own flat.

Police say the guitar, which is a sunburst yellow, brown and black colour, was taken from the house sometime between Saturday, February 9 and Monday, February 11corr.

A green Fender strap and a black Brahman soft case were also taken.

Harvey, who plays with several bands in the Ilfracombe area, said he had dropped the guitar at Matt’s house on Saturday afternoon before heading out with Matt to see a band at Ilfracombe’s Chill Bar.

He said: “I left the guitar inside his flat by the front door.

“As we left I asked him if it would be alright there and he said yes. I’ve left it there plenty of times before.”

Harvey and Matt went out together and went home to their respective houses later that night.

Harvey said he went round to collect the guitar for a rehearsal on Monday only to find the guitar had disappeared.

He said: “It was in an old soft case and it wouldn’t have looked as expensive as it is.

“However, it’s of huge sentimental value. It was the first proper guitar I ever owned and I’ve had it since I was 14.

“It’s everything to me, it’s my soul and I feel totally lost without it.

“I could get another one but no other guitar would be the same. They could have taken anything else I own and I wouldn’t be as upset.

“I’m supposed to be playing a gig on Friday but without it I’m screwed.”

Ilfracombe Neighbourhood Team Leader Sgt Lee Henderson said there was no trace of the guitar on online auction site eBay.

He said: “The link with the burglaries relating to Connor Mackay is an obvious line of enquiry and something our officers have been made aware of.

“We are certainly working on the possibility that the crimes may be linked.”