Piper's bagpipes stolen

3/4 sterling silver McCallum bagpipes, with boxwood mounts
stolen from piper Kevin Auld

Kevin Auld is a professional bagpipe player and the leader of the local Northwest Jr. Pipe Band that sends players to national competition in Scotland each year.

Sunday night his bagpipes were stolen from near his home on 25th NE across from Shorecrest. Here's his story.

Kevin Auld

Last night after getting home, exhausted, at 10:30pm from Portland, we unloaded the car and I accidentally left my bagpipes sitting out by the car on the street. It was a black pipe case sitting in the dark, so it was a simple mistake. This morning I couldn't find them in the house and when I checked outside they were gone. 

I spoke with a police officer today and will be filing a report. They do the work of forwarding the item description to all of the local pawn shops, which is great. 

These pipes weren't a family heirloom or an antique collectible set, but they were important to me and are my livelihood. My workhorse. They are 3/4 sterling silver McCallum bagpipes, with boxwood mounts. Also contained in the pipe case are extra band chanters, practice chanters and supplies. All told it probably is a loss of around $4000. 

This could not have come at a worse time, with the band leaving for Scotland in a few weeks and solo gigs between now and then. I do have some pipes around the house that I can play, so I should be fine for a while until I either get my own set back or can save up for some new ones.

Sometimes thieves will steal spontaneously, then when they find out it's something they can't easily sell, they will toss the item in the bushes, so be on the lookout for this local musician's pipes.