Bill's Music Owners Relieved After Guitar Theft Suspect Arrested

CATONSVILLE, Md. — A suspect in the theft of a $2,200 Gibson Les Paul guitar from Bill's Music House in Catonsville has been arrested in Baltimore City, Baltimore County police said.

In March, a suspect was caught on camera picking up the guitar and walking out of the store with it. Store owners told WMAR the guitar is still missing.

“We couldn't have been happier,” Brian Higgins, the store's general manager, said Wednesday. “We're thrilled.”

The end of winter proved difficult for the family-owned business, located on Frederick Road in Catonsville. The store's beloved founder, Bill Higgins, who was lauded for his impact on local music, died in February.

Weeks later, a suspect came in, walked around the store and retrieved the guitar.

“It's been a tough two weeks here, but a lot of people have helped us get back up. And everything's going well, so it's been a tough two weeks, but we've come out of it green,” Bill's son Higgins told WMAR.

MORE: Bill's Music searches for valuable guitar stolen from Catonsville store

Higgins said the store has received an outpouring of support, both in person and online.

“Every day we would get a reaction, whether it was coming into the store or saying, ‘I feel bad for you guys. I hope you get it so bad,’ it was like it affected people seeing that video and seeing how horrible it was. And there was a lot of good feeling,” Higgins described.

Baltimore County police told WMAR that the suspect, Brian M. Lane, 44, was arrested in Baltimore City on several unrelated open warrants.

“It’s not about the money, it’s not about the value of the guitar. It’s just about seeing things happen. It’s not fun, but all the compliments and people trying to help us has made us feel really good.”