A PSYCHEDELIC guitar stolen by smash and grab thieves in Ashburton has turned up in a Swansea music shop.

Super-sleuthing by miffed staff at window-bashed WM Guitars in West Street led them to the South Wales business where the music dealer was more than happy to return the ‘hot’ Summer of Love guitar worth more than £400.

Two thieves used a sledgehammer in the dead-of-night to help themselves to the distinctive 1960s instrument and an amplifier.

The pair would have bagged more if they had not been disturbed by residents living above the shop who raised the alarm at 2am last Saturday.

Staff used the internet to alert the trade about the theft, a move which hit the jackpot when the Welsh dealer contacted them to say he had just bought what they were looking for – and would accept the loss on the purchase which he’d made in good faith.

WM Guitars spokesman Walter Havinga had expressed frustration that local police had not pursued the crime with much promptness. One excuse given was that the regular beat bobby was away on holiday.

Mr Havinga was anxious to qualify his comments by insisting: ‘Our story is not meant to be a stab at the police. It’s a way to highlight what happens if you drain resources out of the system, as happens in our NHS.

‘Police I assume are like nurses, working non-stop for the people. They deserve a holiday far more than the average person.

‘This entire story relates to understaffing and underfunding issues. As citizens with our own rights, we can also find closure within the law as we have shown using the internet.’

A police spokesman, in a statement, said: ‘We responded immediately to the burglary on August 5 and are currently dealing with active lines of enquiries.

‘Scenes-of-crime officers gathered evidence which is currently being looked at and CCTV will also be looked at.

‘The victim has been contacted by the officer in charge and advised that this is an ongoing investigation.

‘Devon and Cornwall Police apologise if the victim feels he has not had a speedier service but we have to prioritise and utilise our limited resources according to threat, risk and harm to the individual.

‘This is still a live and ongoing investigation.’

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via [email protected] or by calling 101 quoting crime reference number CR/065216/17.