His latest single is called Mr. Pitiful, but it's indie-rocker Matt Costa who deserves pity this week.

More than half his gear was stolen from a locked Garrick Centre storage room Saturday night or Sunday morning, following the California-based singer-songwriter's nearly sold-out Winnipeg show.

Thieves made off with more than $25,000 worth of instruments and equipment -- including five guitars -- while some less expensive gear was left behind, manager Chris Fenn said yesterday.

"Whomever did it clearly knew a bit about our gear and seemingly knew a bit about our set-up and what we roll with, instrument-wise," Fenn said via cellphone from Minneapolis, where Costa and his band were scheduled to play last night. "They cherry-picked it."

Fenn said the band had opted to leave its equipment in the storage room overnight because staff at the adjoining Marlborough Hotel warned them it would be safer than leaving it on their bus.

It wasn't clear Sunday morning whether the room had been broken into.

"It sounds terrible to say, but all signs point to it being an inside job of some sort," Fenn said.

Robbie Rousseau, who manages the Garrick, said he couldn't discuss the venue's security practices because the matter is part of an ongoing police investigation.

"Our hearts go out to the band members who lost the gear," he said. "It's sad to think that some music fans would do this to musicians."

A Winnipeg police spokeswoman said investigators are looking for the equipment.

A plea for help went up on Costa's website early yesterday morning and was posted on Facebook later in the day.

Despite a few calls and e-mails from concerned fans who thought they may have spotted the instruments for sale online, Fenn said nothing had turned up yesterday afternoon.

"It's a stumbling block, but the show will go on," he said, adding members of the band have already replaced some of the equipment and also received loaners from other musicians in Minneapolis.

"The good chunk of it is replaceable, but expensive and time-consuming to find," said Fenn. "Then there's other stuff that's collectible and has sentimental value that the guys will never be able to replace."

Despite the theft, Costa and his band won't be discouraged from playing in Winnipeg in the future, but Fenn said they may consider a different venue.

"I don't think it's a reflection on the people of Winnipeg," he said. "It had just been two months since our last visit, and I can say more than likely that you'll see us back by the end of the year with smiles on our faces."

MISSING AXES

Anyone who may have seen Costa's stolen gear -- worth upwards of $25,000 -- is asked to contact police or Costa's manager Chris Fenn at chris@mattcosta.com.

- Gibson J-45 (natural colour)

- Gibson ES335 (seafoam blue)

- Epiphone EL-OO (sunburst)

- Fender Custom Shop Nocaster Relic (blond)

- Fender Custom Shop 1963 Telecaster Relic (Lake Placid blue)

- 1953 Supro lap steel guitar (salmon mother-of-pearl)

- Kentucky mandolin (sunburst)

- Fender Custom Shop '59 Relic precision bass (blond)