Johnny Vans has said there is deep sentimental value to some of the instruments, which include a guitar with his daughter’s handprint
A Northern Irish musician has issued an appeal after he lost “his music studio overnight” after thieves broke into his home.
Musician Johnny Vans says he returned home in the early hours of the morning on Friday, November 28, to find that his home in the Halfpenny Gate Road area of Moira had been broken into with thieves taking dozens of instruments and equipment. These include instruments that hold “deep sentimental value” including one guitar he has had for over 30 years and another with his daughter’s handprint.
Speaking to Belfast Live following the break-in, Johnny said that he was devastated by what had happened but touched by the amazing response from those within the NI music community who have rallied to support him.
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He said: “They have left me with two guitars, everything else has been taken. The sentimental value on some of the instruments is ridiculous and I have had one of the guitars for 30 years.
I have a five-year-old daughter so I work an evening shift for some extra cash and when I came home on Thursday I found my life history in music had disappeared. My entire music studio had disappeared overnight.“Just want to get the precious items back. While it is tough to lose these, I must say that I am proud to be a musician in Northern Ireland following the support that I have received since it happened. They know what it is like to lose instruments that really matter to you and hopefully they have made these too hot to handle and get them back.”
Sergeant Burns said: “We received a report at around 1.30am on Friday, 28 th November of a burglary at a property in the Halfpenny Gate Road area.
“A number of musical instruments and equipment were reported to have been taken, with the theft believed to have occurred sometime between 3pm on Thursday, 27 th November and Friday morning, 28 th November at 1.30am.
“Our enquiries are ongoing and we would ask that anyone with any information that might assist with the investigation contact police on 101, quoting reference number 74 of 28/11/25.
“You can also submit a report or information online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/.”
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