Iconic, rock and roll memorabilia stolen in the middle of the night

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Iconic, rock and roll memorabilia to be sold at a charity event was stolen in the middle of the night.

The memorabilia was supposed to help raise money for cancer patients at a Jimmie Van Zant benefit concert Saturday night.

The charity concert’s emcee, Freebird, said, “It is a gut punch, it’s a deep gut punch.”

Just one day before the main event, every item organizers planned to auction off is gone.

Freebird explained, “Last night we had a theft where they stole the trailer that was full of all of our benefit merchandise.”

The white trailer was parked outside their room at the Orange Park Days Inn. Inside the trailer were autographed guitars, posters, pillows and other items worth $10,000 to $15,000.

“We had guitars in there signed by Lita Ford, Brian Howe from Foreigner who is passed away now, other signatures from the Van Zant family.”

Now that it’s gone, the organizers say they have nothing to auction off, and the event is happening in less than 24 hours.

It’s a big blow to those who have spent countless hours keeping legend Jimmie Van Zant’s memory alive.

“This is what he wanted to happen, because he unfortunately passed away five years ago with liver cancer.”

Orange Park police are investigating, but the organizers are asking for your help too.

Freebird explains, “Anything would be a blessing right now. Somebody out there knows something, we’re sure of that.”

Now despite not having any items, the show must go on. The concert is taking place Saturday, April 10 at 5 p.m. at the Southern Social Whiskey bar and Lounge in Middleburg.

They’re hoping people will still come out and donate, so they can continue to help more cancer patients.

LOCAL STORIES:

On the eve of his wedding, Jaguars Twitter bands together to buy Trevor Lawrence and his bride a $300 toaster

Daily’s Place to fully reopen for Machine Gun Kelly concert

PHOTOS: Jacksonville’s shelter dogs play dress up on National Unicorn Day

Cox Media Group