Kimble F Mandolin Lost in Los Angeles, February 15, 2016

[Mandomusic]

I am posting this for a friend who lost his Kimble mandolin last night while driving between Santa Monica and LAX. He was traveling in a rental car and apparently the trunk did not close all the way. When he arrived at the airport, the truck was open and the mandolin was gone (he backtracked but could not find it).

The mandolin is a traditional sunburst Kimble F-5, serial number 133, fern headstock with gold hardware in a light grey/white Calton case. It has a "Prairie Winds Cafe" (Molt Montana) sticker on the outside of the case. There are receipts and information in the inside pocket. The owner is Bill Lawarre. He is offering a reward. His phone number is 513-608-6042.

Hopefully, the Mandolin Cafe Community can help recover this mandolin for Bill. Thank you.

Mark

[Demetrius]

That is horrific.

[FLATROCK HILL]

BUMMER! I'm sure your friend is distraught to say the least. Best of luck with the outcome here.

[MikeEdgerton]

Please add this to the Lost or Stolen section of the classifieds.

[Mandomusic]

Done. Sorry, did not know there was a place in the classifieds to do this. Thank you.

[sgarrity]

I'll spread the word here in LA

[Doug Freeman]

I'll spread the word here in LA

Me too.

[Scott Tichenor]

Done. Sorry, did not know there was a place in the classifieds to do this. Thank you.

It's not a problem.

The Cafe has a long history of aggressively cross posting notices of stolen instruments, and we don't care if it's a mandolin, banjo, guitar, ukulele, sitar, bass. As long as it has strings we're on it. Once they're in the Classifieds they get on the Cafe home page, every single Forum page highlighted at top, every single Classifieds page (both for 24 hours) and posted to Facebook and Twitter.

Sadly, so much could be done if people on social media would share these out. I can posts a cat meme with something funny and get it shared out 500 times with 2,500 Likes in 24 hours but some poor soul that lost an instrument or had it stolen, not so lucky.

Still, lots of buyers and sellers see those on the Classifieds that won't here. These are the people you wanting see these notices because they often remember them weeks later when they show up for sale on Craig's List or a pawn shop. Remarkable how many instruments get returned, ultimately

[Mandomusic]

Scott, you provide a wonderful service and great Website. Thank you.

Mark

[FLATROCK HILL]

Off topic a bit here, but I'll mention it anyway.
Several times in the recent past, I have noticed the trunk-lid of my rental car(s) being unlocked/open unintentionally. Not sure if it is the result of unfamiliar key-fob or if the remote trunk button in the cabin was pressed accidentally. Something to try to keep in mind I guess.

Too late to worry about why it happened in this incident. Again...Best of luck to your friend.

[markT]

I know Bill is sick about this. So sorry. I've had 4 instruments stolen in my lifetime and it's an empty feeling for sure.

Good luck with the recovery.

[Mandomusic]

Great news! The mandolin was found today about a half mile from the owner's departure location in Santa Monica. It was run over. Thank goodness to the Calton case, the instrument was unharmed. Thank you to Scott and everyone that posted the message on social media.

Mark

[FLATROCK HILL]

That is great news!
Looks like the weight of the vehicle (tire marks anyway) went over the case in the best possible area.
Tough case. I'll bet someone needs a front-end alignment.

[Eric C.]

Great news! The mandolin was found today about a half mile from the owner's departure location in Santa Monica. It was run over. Thank goodness to the Calton case, the instrument was unharmed. Thank you to Scott and everyone that posted the message on social media.

Mark

That's quite the advertisement photo for Calton cases! Glad he got it back. Valuable lesson to those swearing by Travelite cases!

[pheffernan]

That's quite the advertisement photo for Calton cases! Glad he got it back. Valuable lesson to those swearing by Travelite cases!

Make sure to close your trunk?

[G. Fisher]

Great news! The mandolin was found today about a half mile from the owner's departure location in Santa Monica.

Mark

So, it was found along the side of the road or in a ditch?

[MikeEdgerton]

Wow, I wonder what that would have looked like if it had been a Travelite case.

[Eric C.]

Wow, I wonder what that would have looked like if it had been a Travelite case.

Probably would have to break out the construction adhesive for a headstock repair.

[Jim Hilburn]

When I would recommend Stew Mac semi soft cases I said the only place a Calton would out-perform it was if it got run over. This is that situation.

[Canoedad]

Imagine the thief's disappointment when he opened the case and discovered that it did not contain a ukulele

[MikeEdgerton]

I'm pretty sure that if it had been stolen it wouldn't have been found.

[Timbofood]

It makes me happy that it has been recovered by the rightful owner! Nice ad for Calton!
Not to and like a wisenheimer but, this is a good reason to put instruments in the back seat whenever possible.

[Canoedad]

I'm pretty sure that if it had been stolen it wouldn't have been found.

Bounced/flew/dropped out of the trunk? I wonder what the rental car looks like.

.... Glad the Kimble is back home.

[Galileo]

All is well that ends well. Glad to see the owner will be reunited with their instrument. Calton has to love this real-life testimonty to the integrity of their product.

[Jim Hilburn]

I'm imagining it was a hatchback.