A vintage Spanish guitar, believed to be worth $8,000, was recovered by detectives from a Peabody home after it disappeared from its Gloucester owner's residence earlier in the month.
The guitar, an acoustic flamenco model made by Jose Ramirez, guitar makers in Madrid, Spain, is a hand-made and relatively rare in the United States, police said.
The guitar's owner, a 38-year-old Gloucester man, said his father gave him the instrument after acquiring it in Spain in the 1970s.
The owner told police he knew the person who had taken the instrument and had been trying unsuccessfully to have it returned before he reported it stolen last week.
Based on the owner's report, Gloucester police obtained a search warrant for the apartment of Matt Dixon, 24, of 8R Elm St., Apt. B, Peabody.
Yesterday morning, Gloucester police Detectives Steven Mizzoni and Michael Gossom, along with two officers from Peabody, confronted Dixon with the search warrant and asked to see the guitar.
Dixon led the officers to the basement and showed them a Jose Ramirez guitar matching the description of the one reported stolen.
Dixon told police he had taken the guitar as "collateral," because its owner owed him money, according to the police report. He admitted having denied taking the instrument when the owner had tried to get it back.
He told officers he was having financial difficulties, according to the report.
Lt. Michael Lane said yesterday that police intended to charge Dixon with larceny.
Jose Ramirez began making guitars in Madrid in 1858 and family and disciples have continued making instruments in a similar style in a Spanish workshop since.
Patrick Anderson may be contacted at panderson@gloucestertimes.com.
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