Guitars Stolen From, Returned To Nils Lofgren In Dallas

DALLAS, TX — Several guitars belonging to Bruce Springsteen's guitarist Nils Lofgren were stolen from a van parked at a Holiday Inn in Southwest Dallas on March 29.

Police said in a statement the van was left unattended overnight, and when Lofgren went out in the morning, he found the back door of the van had been pried open and the instruments were missing.

In full, Lofgren reported missing three Takamine guitars, a Fender guitar and a Lyon & Healy harp.

Police began investigating the burglary and learned Sunday that a person had purchased one of the stolen guitars on the app OfferUp. He didn't know the guitar was stolen at the time, but he called police after seeing a news article about the stolen guitars, authorities said in a statement.

Detectives worked with the buyer, who used the app to stay in contact with the suspected guitar thief. Police eventually went to his address and arrested 33-year-old Oscar Mendoza, who was found with several other stolen items belonging to Lofgren.

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Mendoza was taken to Lew Sterrett Justice Center and charged with Possession of Stolen Property and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Mendoza is held in lieu of $10,000 bail.

The tale had a happy ending — at least for Lofgren, who tweeted, "Looks like my guitars are coming back to me."

Getty images file photo: Nils Lofgren and Bruce Springsteen perform onstage at Madison Square Garden on March 28, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)