The mayor's chain of office was stolen from Kamloops city hall in September 2021, and the City aims to replace it.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/City of Kamloops

Mike Miltimore wants a piece of Kamloops history returned, and he'll pay up to see it back at city hall.

Miltimore, owner of Riversong Guitars, is offering one of his custom guitars to whoever returns the Kamloops mayor's chain of office.

"I have not been asked to do this, but this is a piece of Kamloops history that belongs at city hall," a post to his social media reads.

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The stolen chain is one of two that represent the City and its mayor. While one sits at the Kamloops Museum and Archives, the other was worn by the mayor for ceremonial purposes.

It hasn't been found since a break-in last September. Yesterday, the City called for artists to design a new chain instead, with the goal of having it ready for the next mayor after the fall 2022 election.

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Miltimore is offering the free guitar to a person who drops off the missing chain at Lee's Music with the option to call the store instead.

"We have had a lot of stuff stolen these last two years and it really sucks," he wrote. "Most of our stuff can be replaced. Let’s do what’s right."

Thieves took a rare guitar and a laptop from Riversong Guitars in December 2019. Miltimore called out to the public for help and the community rallied around him, which he called a "Christmas miracle."

After a year, the rare five-string bass was returned to the store and he gave the person who returned it credit to his store.

Another theft at his family's store four years earlier saw thieves steal around $30,000 of merchandise. With public support, most of what was stolen eventually was returned to the store.

More information about Lee's Music, where Riversong Guitars is based, can be found here.

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