Stolen goods returned to Stockbridge record shop owner after social media appeal

A record shop owner who had an amp and bag of cables taken from outside his house ahead of Record Store Day last weekend has had his equipment returned.

Darren Yeats, who owns VoxBox Music on St Stephen Street in Stockbridge, was getting ready to leave his house to travel to the shop at around 6.30am on Saturday when a man walked past and took his equipment from the pavement.

Mr Yeats had left the possessions on the street to go back inside to say goodbye to his wife, but when he returned one of his amps and his bag of cables and chargers had disappeared.

Luckily, the amp was a spare and the party the store was throwing for Record Store Day went ahead as planned.

Darren Yeats, who owns VoxBox Music on St Stephen Street, has had his amp returned | Supplied

But Mr Yeats took to social media after the event to appeal for help to find his missing amp, posting CCTV images from his neighbour’s webcam.

The incident was reported to the police, who said they were carrying out enquiries.

In an update on Tuesday, Mr Yeats said his equipment had been safely returned to his house after the online appeal.

He said the result was a “happy outcome” and he was assured the man had picked up the items thinking they were free.

Reflecting on the success of Record Store Day, Mr Yeats said: “It was still a beautiful day. We sold loads of records and there was a really lovely community feel.

“There were lots of meetings of old friends, lots of hugs and lots of new faces as well.

“It was lovely, heart warming occasion. But it started with a punch in the stomach.”