July 18, 2025 #1 Local News, Information and Event Source for the Century City/Westwood areas.

Guitar Center Replaces Instruments Stolen in Santa Monica Music Center Robbery

Instruments replaced after store’s third recent robbery

By Dolores Quintana

Guitar Center has replaced the instruments stolen in the robbery of Santa Monica Music Center, the family store co-owned by Santa Monica City Councilmember Lana Negrete. 

Santa Monica Music Center has been robbed twice in 2021, most recently on November 23, and three times over the course of the pandemic. The instruments that were stolen and damaged during that robbery were to be used by Councilmember Negrete’s non-profit after-school program called Outreach Through The Arts. OTTA provides music lessons and instruments to underserved youth, so even if they can’t afford their own instruments, they can still learn to play and be on the road to achieving their musical dreams. 

OTTA is the recipient of a Guitar Center Music Foundation grant and on December 2 they provided the program with the guitars that were lost during the break-in. Guitar Center immediately wanted to help once they heard about the robbery. 

“Santa Monica Music Center has an incredible after-school music program, Outreach Through the Arts, for kids and was chosen as a Guitar Center Music Foundation (GCMF) grant recipient a while ago. When GCMF heard about the break-in and the stolen instruments, they wanted to support Santa Monica Music Center’s program and replace the instruments immediately. All stolen and damaged items were replaced, including two electric guitars and one bass. Myka Miller, GCMF’s executive director, personally dropped off the instruments and met with Councilmember Negrete and Outreach Through the Arts students to learn more about their program,” Guitar Center said. 

After being robbed twice in one year, with both robberies occurring within two months of each other, the Santa Monica Music Center must be relieved to have received this assistance that will ensure that children will continue to learn and grow as musicians. 

Myka Miller, executive director of Guitar Center Music Foundation, spoke about why the GCMF was intent on replacing these instruments for OTTA, Councilmember Negrete’s passion project. 

“Santa Monica Music Center is an important part of the Santa Monica music community, and Guitar Center Music Foundation is thrilled to support their work with this donation,” Miller told the Santa Monica Mirror. “We hope these instruments give their after-school music students the confidence to grow their skills and encourages them to find joy in making music.”

“Today was made magical by this,” Santa Monica Music Center wrote in a social media post on December 2, following the donation. “Once they heard the tragic news they didn’t skip a beat! Myka came and proved to us once again that community partnerships and kindness prevail!”

GCMF’s mission is to support music education programs. The organization aims to keep music education alive and available in our nation’s schools and communities. Founded in 2005, this public charity has reached over 300,000 people through its grants of instruments to music education programs. 

“The Guitar Center Music Foundation believes that music participation is an essential element in the fabric of an enduring society,” reads their website.

Related Posts

Man Arrested in Brentwood for Impersonating Firefighter During Palisades Fire

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

The suspect faces at least 28 criminal counts—including 23 felonies—spanning incidents from 2023 to May 2025 Federal and local law...

Study Highlights Economic Impact of Cap-and-Trade Extension in Los Angeles

July 18, 2025

July 18, 2025

Governor Gavin Newsom and legislative leaders are pushing to reauthorize the program this year, citing its role in generating 287,000...

Nearly $1B Secured for Refinancing of Westfield Century City Mall

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

The proceeds will replace a $925 million commercial mortgage-backed securities loan, originally issued by Morgan Stanley in 2023 and due...

West Coast Premiere of ‘The Opposite of Love’ Opens at Hudson Backstage Theatre

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Produced by Neil Gooding Productions, behind shows like Back to the Future: The Musical, the play runs Thursdays through Saturdays...

Tesla Seen Nearly Crashing into West LA Home After Collision

July 17, 2025

July 17, 2025

Footage depicted a blue Prius on the road with significant front-end damage A crash involving injuries was reported around 12:30...

DUI Checkpoints to be Conducted Across LA This Weekend

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The LAPD selects checkpoint sites based on data indicating high incidents of impaired driving-related crashes and arrests The Los Angeles...

Mayor Bass Hails National Guard Withdrawal as Victory for Unity

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The Pentagon’s decision to reduce the troop presence follows weeks of legal challenges and public demonstrations Mayor Karen Bass celebrated...

(Video) Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The outpost is a first for the popular influencer Did You Know Emma Chamberlain’s Coffee Shop is in Century City?...

Dodgers to Host Back to School Bash for Fire-Affected Families

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The free event will offer free groceries, school supplies, outfits, haircuts, medical screenings, and carnival rides The Los Angeles Dodgers...

Hundreds of Red-Legged Frog Tadpoles Released in Santa Monica Mountains

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

Once widespread in California, red-legged frogs vanished from the Santa Monica Mountains by the 1970s Nearly 600 California red-legged frog...

LA Sees Second Straight Year of Homelessness Decline, Leaders Celebrate Progress

July 16, 2025

July 16, 2025

The survey, designed by the University of Southern California, reported a 17.5% drop—the largest two-year decrease on record The Los...

Westwood Village Board to Discuss Public Art Initiative

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The initiative aims to enhance community pride, boost local business revenue, and address urban blight through public art corridors and...

Beverly Hills Plans Major Apartment Development Near Civic Center

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

The site, currently holding 13 residential units, is slated for demolition to make way for the new development A proposal...

Federal Judge Sides with Santa Monica, Other Local Governments Against Immigration Raids

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

Santa Monica Mayor Lana Negrete praised the ruling, saying it reaffirmed the city’s commitment to protecting residents from unjust detention...

California Hits Two-Thirds Clean Energy Milestone

July 15, 2025

July 15, 2025

This year, clean energy has powered the state for an average of seven hours daily, with over 90% of days...