Bold as brass burglars plunder entire jazz band
RAIDERS have stolen an "entire jazz band" from a shop.
Instruments worth thousands of pounds were stolen from a small music store in Hertfordshire
Devastated owner James Cockell today said the theft of thousands of pounds worth of instruments was a "major kick in the teeth".
He spoke out after the gang plundered Herts Music Centre, a shop, teaching centre and rehearsal space for musicians, in St Albans, Hertfordshire.
The villains struck between 8pm on Wednesday, February 1 and 9.50am the next day.
Terrifying CCTV shows woman led by the neck by two burglars
The crooks' haul include saxophones, clarinets, trumpets, flutes, piccolos, portable pianos and guitars.
Mr Cockell said: "I'm quite disappointed that the instruments they've taken are not common instruments.
"The bulk of them are brass and woodwind.
Enough instruments were stolen to fit out a jazz band
"They've taken an entire jazz band.
We are a small business so this is tough to take. This is a major kick in the teeth for us
"They've taken them without cases and mouthpieces so they are not much use to the general public."
He added: "Disappointingly some of the instruments are second hand and some are new and of limited appeal so it seems a strange thing to steal.
"They've taken digital pianos that are a brand that hasn't been launched in the country and they've taken them without power packs."
The store owner said it was a blow to the business
Hertfordshire Police said they had launched a manhunt for the burglars.
Mr Cockell said: "We are a small business so this is tough to take.
"This is a major kick in the teeth for us."