An unidentified man was captured on surveillance video stealing two valuable mandolins from Lark Street Music in Teaneck on December 22. The store owner, Bernard Levine, reported the theft to police after reviewing footage and has appealed to the public for help in recovering the instruments. The mandolins, worth $8,000 to $9,000, include a rare 1949 Gibson model.
On the afternoon of December 22, a man entered Lark Street Music in Teaneck, a shop specializing in rare, new, and used string instruments. Owned by Bernard Levine since 1981, the store was the scene of a brazen theft when the visitor, after chatting with an employee about a guitar, browsed the displays. Levine, who was nearby but had his back turned, later noticed empty spots on the wall where two mandolins had hung.
Surveillance footage shows the man removing a Gibson F-12, serial number A2985, and a Weber Yellowstone, serial number 9360302, before concealing them in the pockets of his long winter coat and exiting the premises. Levine searched the store briefly, suspecting a possible misplacement, but confirmed the theft upon checking the cameras. He promptly notified the Teaneck Police Department, which is now investigating the incident.
The stolen items are particularly noteworthy. One is a modern Weber, while the other is a vintage Gibson from 1949, making them uncommon finds even in specialized shops. Their combined value ranges from $8,000 to $9,000, according to Levine. To aid recovery, he shared the video on Facebook, captioning it: "How to steal 2 mandolins at the same time! Be on the lookout for this criminal and the Gibson F-12 #A2985 and a Weber Yellowstone #9360302."
Levine remains optimistic about retrieving the mandolins, citing their uniqueness. He recalled a similar theft about 15 years ago, when two guitars were taken on consecutive days; both were eventually recovered, though one took 12 years to resurface. As of December 24 afternoon, no updates had come from police. The department urges anyone with information to call 201-837-2600.
This incident underscores the challenges faced by small music retailers in safeguarding valuable inventory amid opportunistic crimes.
