NORTH SALT LAKE -- A North Salt Lake burglary victim will soon be reunited with his grandmother’s 1930’s era Gibson guitar thanks to a pawnshop owner in Tooele.
"For an old guitar, it has a really good sound," said Charles D. Morris, owner of the guitar.
Morris’ guitar went missing in July when his home was ransacked during a break in. Burglars took jewelry, vintage silver coins, antique pistols along with the beloved instrument.
Police later tied Jason Kettler to the crime.
Kettler and Chauntae Thompson were already wanted for a garage burglary in Riverton that was caught on tape.
The two were later charged federally with identity theft.
Kenny Gregrich, owner of a GSI pawnshop in Tooele, said two people showed up in his store with the Gibson guitar not long after the burglary at Morris’ house.
Gregrich later saw the news about Morris’ burglary and called North Salt Lake Police, believing he bought the stolen guitar.
Even though he’ll lose money on the deal, Gregrich said, he’s thrilled to be able to reunite the six string with its rightful owner.
“It doesn't matter what the dollar value is, to him it's priceless and I can see why he absolutely wants it back," he said of Morris. "To me it was the right thing to do and I didn't see any reason not to do it."
Morris was grateful to Gregrich and the police in the efforts to retrieve his stolen property.
“He's a super honest person, he didn't have to report that," Morris said of the pawnshop owner.
The North Salt Lake man is still missing a lot of valuables, some of which may never be recovered – but knowing the suspects’ are in jail and getting the guitar means the world to him.
Morris said he’s still finding things that were taken in the burglary more than two weeks after the break in.
Anyone with information about the crime can call North Salt Lake Police at 801-936-3880.
