Stolen Heart Instrument Found!

There’s some good news for Heart fans—Nancy Wilson’s beloved custom-made guitar has been found. But unfortunately, bandmate Paul Moak’s vintage mandolin is still missing.

According to the Associated Press, Nancy’s purple sparkle baritone Telecaster with a hand-painted headstock has been recovered by Atlantic City police. Investigators say the guitar was sold by the suspected thief to a woman, and the exchange was actually caught on security camera. Police tracked the buyer’s vehicle to a residence, where she voluntarily turned over the guitar. The seller has since been charged with burglary and theft.

What’s Still Missing?

Sadly, the other missing piece—Paul Moak’s 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin—has not yet been found. Moak has played the vintage instrument for more than 25 years, making its loss especially tough.

Nancy shared an update on social media, confirming that an arrest had been made, and thanked both the Atlantic City Police Department and the Hard Rock organization for their help.

“While we’re encouraged by the progress made and thankful that an arrest has been made, our instruments have not yet been recovered. We remain hopeful that they will be returned to us soon,” she wrote.

A Painful Theft at Tour Kickoff

The theft happened just as Heart kicked off their summer North American tour on June 4. The band discovered the instruments were missing from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, shortly before their first show.

The instruments weren’t just gear—they held deep emotional value.

“These instruments are more than just tools of our trade — they’re extensions of our musical souls,” said Wilson. “The baritone Tele was made uniquely for me, and Paul’s mandolin has been with him for decades. We’re heartbroken, and we’re asking for their safe return—no questions asked. Their value to us is immeasurable.”

For now, the search for the missing mandolin continues.