Darren Moore said if the thieves want to return the hard drives, he won't ask questions. (Chris Procaylo, Sun Media)

WINNIPEG - This is one case where a musician's songs weren't stolen by another artist.

Party crashers may be to blame for the theft of unique guitars, computers and other items from Darren Moore's south Winnipeg home this month.

The equipment is valued at more than $35,000, but what Moore -- a member of the Winnipeg-based rock band Harlequin -- is most concerned about is the computers containing the lone copies of original songs, Harlequin material, and ideas for upcoming band projects.

He fears they may be lost forever and is pleading with the suspects to return his belongings.

"No questions asked, if I could get those hard drives back I'd be pleased. Drop them off at a police station anonymously," said Moore, a keyboardist and guitarist with Harlequin, which is releasing a live CD this year.

Moore said people with information can contact him at harlequinrock@gmail.com.

The computers are a Power Mac G5, Mac Pro 8-core, and Toshiba and Compaq laptops, Moore said.

His house was broken into early April 5 after police shut down a large party that began as a small gathering hosted by his 15-year-old daughter.

"I'm not angry with her. She was doing the same thing we did when we were kids," Moore said. "It's just a different time now. People don't have any respect for people's homes or each other."

The gathering snowballed into an out-of-control party after dozens of uninvited people got wind of it and showed up, said Moore, who was in Toronto at the time.

By phone, a police officer told him up to 120 kids were at his house. Police kicked everyone out and, through Moore, arranged for his daughter to stay elsewhere for the night.

The thieves soon broke in and cleaned out the unoccupied house. Moore believes some of the uninvited partygoers returned after seeing what was inside and broke in.

Two acoustic guitars, three electric guitars, a mandolin, assorted music gear, five samurai swords and liquor also were stolen.

The guitars may be hard to sell or pawn without raising suspicion because of the uniqueness and quality.

"This is the type of stuff, because it's not run-of-the-mill, it's high quality and it's recognizable," said police spokesman Const. Pat Chabidon.

Chabidon said police are checking pawn shops and keeping an eye on Internet auctions and classifieds. Moore is doing the same and notifying his music industry contacts.

Anyone with information about the break-in or the whereabouts of the stolen items is asked to call the District 6 crime unit at 986-2877.