Members of the Australian hard rock band Airbourne are breathing a sigh of relief after the majority of their stolen musical instruments were returned “safe and sound.”
In early April, the band reported a break-in at their storage facility in Melbourne, during which seven instruments were taken. Among the missing gear were two acoustic guitars, three electric guitars, an acoustic bass, and a mandolin. Significantly, two of the stolen instruments belonged to the late father of founding brothers Joel and Ryan O’Keeffe, deepening the emotional impact of the theft.
While the band was relieved to have most of the instruments recovered, the mandolin is still missing.
“It’s with a heavy heart that we put this out there,” the band shared on social media shortly after the theft. “Our Airbourne Australian Lockup was broken into on Sunday night. The thieves made off with 6 guitars amongst other things.
“Most important was my father’s old Mini Maton and his mandolin. Those of you who know Ryan and myself know that we lost our father back in 2014, so for me personally, when I play my Dad’s old guitar it brings me a little bit closer to him again—it’s like a part of him comes back around again. It really helps me through tough times when I feel I need to talk to him.”
On Wednesday, May 7, Joel O’Keeffe took to Facebook to share the uplifting news that all the stolen instruments—except the mandolin—had been returned.
“Yesterday we were in the studio and we received a call… that all of our guitars (except for the mandolin) were miraculously returned safe and sound,” Joel wrote, including a photo of one of the recovered acoustic guitars alongside his dog.
He continued, “At some point during the still of Monday night, the thieves returned to the storage facility and slid the guitars under the security fence to make sure they were found the next day safe and sound.
“We’re still in shock and so, so, so grateful to the great people of Melbourne, of Australia, and of the world who shared the story and put the heat out there. Thank you from the deepest of our hearts. Miracles do happen!”
When initially reporting the theft, Airbourne had also offered a “handsome reward” for any tips that could help recover the O’Keeffe family’s cherished instruments.
