Experiencing theft is so infuriating.

It also feels violating. Not a day goes by in Billings where I'm not reading about something getting stolen in the Magic City. Local community Facebook pages are filled with residents sharing stories of stolen cars, stolen tools, wallets/purses, and the occasional firearm. Heck, pretty much anything of value is at risk of disappearing from your vehicle, porch, and backyard in Billings.

It sucks.

People are fed up. Our jail is overfull and the cops oftentimes do little more than take a report. There are simply not enough law enforcement resources available to investigate every theft.

Courtesy Val Lofgren, used with permission
Courtesy Val Lofgren, used with permission
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A Billings teen just had his beloved guitar stolen.

Cody Harper is graduating from the Lincoln Center today (5/24) and unfortunately, his celebration of achievement is slightly marred because his favorite guitar was stolen from his vehicle earlier this week, parked overnight near the corner of Nutter and Claimjumper in the Heights. Getting a guitar stolen hits a little harder than someone stealing your nice floor jack or gas cans out of the bed of your truck. Guitars are personal.

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Can you help this young man get his guitar back?

Cody told us it was his first electric guitar, which he received as a Christmas gift from his parents in 2020, shortly after he started teaching himself to play. His guitar is not particularly valuable; it's an entry-level Silvertone brand designed after a Stratocaster and is worth only a few hundred dollars. It's more of a sentimental thing. Every guitarist remembers their first axe, and probably still has it in their collection.

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Cody's guitar is covered in stickers.

His family has reached out to all of the big pawn shops in town, hoping maybe somebody will bring it in. If you happen to see it, or if maybe your teenager suddenly shows up with a new guitar "they got from a friend", please reach out to the family. The original Facebook post is below (shared with permission). Harper said a local musician has reached out to him, offering to give the young guitarist a replacement guitar from his own collection. We think that's pretty awesome.

Got an interesting story idea, or something you think I should let Billings know about? Drop me an email. Michael@BillingsMix.com

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