Thief steals pricey guitar right off store wall in Chinatown

CHINATOWN, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The search is on for a man who stole an expensive guitar right off the wall of a music shop in Los Angeles' Chinatown.

A surveillance camera caught the crime shortly before noon on Saturday at Caveman Vintage Music in the 600 block of N. Spring Street. The video shows the suspect holding the blue guitar for a while before taking off with it.

Employee Tobin Dale said the shop was busy, music was playing and the phone was ringing -- all perfect distractions for a crime.

"Many people saw him run out, and actually one customer ran out after him. So we have plenty of visuals and we caught him on security camera, but unfortunately we weren't able to physically stop him," Dale said.

The guitar, identified as an Eastwood Airline guitar on the shop's Facebook page, is valued at around $1,100, and is a unique bright blue color.

The customer who chased the suspect said the culprit got away on a bike.

If you recognize the suspect, you're urged to call police.