By DIANTÉ MARIGNY
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
What began as a routine trip to the store turned into a nightmare for local resident Dallas Smetter, whose prized guitars were stolen from his home in an incident that remains under investigation months later.
“I was at Walmart,” Smetter said. “I found out where I was once my neighbor showed me the Ring footage, and it had the timestamp. And so that’s when I knew where I was at that time.”
According to Smetter, the theft occurred on or around October 18. Surveillance footage captured a single man carrying out the guitars, confirming that possibly only one suspect was involved. “Yes, there’s one person seen performing the theft,” he said.
Two guitars were taken, with a combined estimated value of approximately $8,700. While one of the instruments has since been recovered, it was returned in severely damaged condition.
“The thieves thought that they were stealing nice guitars,” Smetter said. “But they were stealing much more than that.”
The recovered guitar, Smetter explained, was especially rare. “It’s one of 100 made worldwide with the artist’s signature on it,” he said. “I paid $5,400 for it new.”
The second instrument — still missing — is described as a Gibson Les Paul Standard, believed to be a 2022 model.
In a surprising twist, the recovered guitar was located not in the possession of the suspect, but at a local business where it had reportedly been listed for sale online. “Yeah, that’s what it sounds like,” Smetter said when asked if someone had sold the stolen instrument.
Smetter has since filed public information requests related to the case, including the police report and body camera footage from the detective who retrieved the guitar. However, he says progress has been slow.
“Over the last few months, I haven’t heard anything,” he said. “That’s when I made the public information request and began to prepare my civil case.”
Though frustrated, Smetter emphasized that his intentions are not driven by anger. “I’m not out for revenge,” he said. “But I am wanting accountability.”
A longtime resident of the area, Smetter has lived in and around Port Isabel for decades, first arriving from Aurora, Nebraska. He said the experience has been deeply personal.
“Of course, I was crushed,” he said.
Smetter is currently offering a reward for information leading to the recovery of the second guitar and the identification of the suspect, who remains at large.
Authorities have not announced any arrests, and the case is still open.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact local law enforcement.