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Drumming News
In a thrilling turn of events, the drum kits stolen from Poison’s drummer, Rikki Rockett, were recovered on Tuesday, December 10, after being stolen from Donn Bennett’s Drum Vault in Burien, Washington. The drums, valued at approximately $100,000, were found thanks to quick thinking from local employees and law enforcement.
The drama began when Donn Bennett, owner of Donn’s Drum Vault, discovered the break-in. The storage unit, which housed several rare drum sets, had been burglarized, and the locks were broken. Among the missing gear were Rikki Rockett’s drums, part of the legendary drummer’s personal collection. In an urgent post on social media, Bennett shared the news with the public, including photos of the stolen items in hopes of getting them back.
The theft was quickly spotted by a local Guitar Center employee, Andy Emery, who recognized the stolen drum kits when a couple came in to sell them. Emery, who had been a longtime friend of Bennett, was familiar with the instruments and immediately contacted Bennett to let him know he had seen the drums. After confirming that these were indeed Rockett’s stolen sets, Emery reached out to local authorities.
Deputy Adriana Mazur of the King County Sheriff’s Office, who had initially been unsure about the significance of the stolen gear, was soon fully briefed on the situation. Bennett shared the contact details with Emery, and the plan to recover the stolen drums was set into motion.
On Friday, just two days after the theft was discovered, the thieves returned to the Guitar Center in Tukwila, attempting to sell the drums once again. Emery, suspicious of their intentions, managed to stall the suspects by pretending to be interested in purchasing the instruments. He then discreetly called the police and followed the detective’s advice to keep the thieves occupied while waiting for law enforcement to arrive.
Emery filled out intake forms, engaged with other customers, and made strategic pauses to keep the suspects in the store until the police showed up. His careful handling of the situation bought enough time for the Burien Sheriff Department to respond. The authorities quickly arrested the thieves, and all of Rockett’s stolen drum kits were returned in perfect condition.
In a heartfelt social media post on December 12, Rockett expressed his gratitude for the quick recovery of his gear. He thanked everyone involved, including Guitar Center Tukwila and the Burien Sheriff Department, for their dedication and professionalism. “My deepest appreciation to our friends at the Tukwila Guitar Center for their cool and quick action,” Rockett wrote. “Also to our new friends at the Burien Sheriff Department for their great police work and for being total pros!”
Donn Bennett also shared his thanks, emphasizing the power of the local drum community and the collective effort that led to the drums’ recovery. “I feel deeply fortunate to be part of our drum community that watches out for each other like we all do. This is a big win for the good guys!” he wrote.
This incident highlights the power of community and quick action when it comes to recovering stolen property. With the thieves caught and the drums returned safely, it’s clear that justice prevailed—and the drumming community came together to ensure that the gear, and its rightful owner, were reunited.
