Nancy Wilson posted a Facebook photo with her returned guitar. The mandolin is still missing.
Nancy Wilson and her one-of-a-kind Telecaster were reunited.
The Heart legend's guitar was stolen from the Mark Etess Arena on May 30, hours before she and her sister, Ann Wilson, were set to take the stage at the Hard Rock.
Garfield Bennett allegedly walked into the arena after hours and stole the guitar along with a mandolin belonging to guitarist Paul Moak.
After his arrest, he told police he sold one. There was no information on the other.
An investigation by Sgt. Gary Holmes and Detective Lisa Kaplin-Caldwell led to the woman, who was seen putting the guitar into her car in the 1300 block of Pacific Avenue, Capt. Kevin Fair said.
Her license plate was then put into the department's automated license plate reader that showed it was in Atlantic City, according to the report.
Officer Robert McDevitt was able to quickly locate the vehicle and spoke with the driver, who voluntarily surrendered the instrument, Fair said.
Detectives learned that the woman purchased it from Bennett, according to the report.
The guitar was give to representatives of the Hard Rock Atlantic City, who will return it to Heart.
"I'm incredibly grateful to the Atlantic City Police Department for recovering my guitar," Nancy Wilson wrote in a Facebook post. "It means so much to have it back in my hands. Their dedication and quick action are deeply appreciated."
She noted that the mandolin remains missing.
"This instrument holds tremendous sentimental and musical value," she said of Moak's mandolin. "A reward is still being offered — no questions asked — for its return. We just want to see it come home where it belongs."
Meanwhile, Bennett, 57, remains in the Atlantic County Justice Facility after a judge ordered him held pending the outcome of his case.
Judge William Miller went against the public safety assessment, which is used to help determine if a defendant should be held pretrial. It recommended Bennett be released with conditions.
Miller pointed out a nearly lifelong criminal history, which included Bennett having been on release in another case at the time of the thefts.
"This is bullsh**," Bennett said after he was ordered held.
He then met with his attorney, who said Bennett wants to resolve the case without it going to a grand jury for indictment.
Bennett now will remain in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending the outcome of the case.
Police continue to search for the missing mandolin.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Atlantic City Police Department Criminal Investigations Section at 609-347-5766. Information also may be submitted anonymously to tip411 (847411), beginning the text with ACPD.
NOTE: This story originally ran June 10, 2025. It has been updated to include the return of the guitar to Nancy Wilson.
