MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Police say $83,000 worth of band equipment was stolen from a home on the 700 block of Buck Street near the University of Memphis.
David Upton of Bartlett has been arrested in connection with the burglary.
“Shame on you. I just, I don’t know. I can’t imagine why someone would want to do that. People spend so much time and money and effort on something they have a real passion for and to have it taken away, it’s unimaginable,” Aimee Scarlett said.
The stolen instruments belonged to her boyfriend, Joseph Sweat, who loved to jam on his prized drum set.
The drum set was in a closed trailer the couple parked outside their home, but on the morning of January 31, Scarlett said they walked outside and it was gone.
Inside was Sweat’s beloved drum set, cymbals, microphones, and guitars – one of them a 1964 Fender Mustang that was appraised at $20,000. Monitors and amps were also taken.
Scarlett and Sweat thought they would never see the instruments again, but then on February 8, they received word someone tried to sell some of the instruments in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Someone tried to sell the acoustic amp but was unsuccessful. Police say that someone is David Upton. Police searched his home in Bartlett and say he admitted to trying to sell some of the stolen equipment.
Now Scarlett hopes Swear can get the rest of his things back.
“He’s been playing since he was old enough to hold a stick,” Scarlett said.
Tuesday afternoon, Sweat said he got a call from police that more of the items had been recovered. He said he planned to go to the police precinct to check out what they recovered and what condition they’re in.
