One of the two instruments stolen from the rock band Heart after they set up for a recent show in Atlantic City, New Jersey, has been returned, police said Tuesday.

A purple Telecaster electric guitar specially made for Nancy Wilson is now back in the possession of Hard Rock Atlantic City, which will return it to the band. Meanwhile, investigators continue looking for a missing mandolin.

Atlantic City police said the theft occurred after Heart set up gear ahead of a May 30 show at the Etess Arena at Hard Rock. Police used surveillance video to track a suspect, later identified as 57-year-old Garfield Bennett, of Pleasantville.

Detectives learned Bennett allegedly sold the guitar to a woman. The footage showed Bennett handing her the guitar before she placed it in a vehicle on the 1300 block of Pacific Avenue. Automatic license plate readers were then used to identify the woman's vehicle.

"We were able to utilize the license plate reader technology to get the tag of the van we are looking for. Then one of our detectives ran that tag in real time and knew that that vehicle was still currently in Atlantic City," Atlantic City Police Chief James Sarkos said.

An officer located the woman and spoke to her, and she then voluntarily surrendered the instrument.

The still-missing instrument is a 1966 Gibson EM-50 mandolin, which performer Paul Moak has played for over 25 years.

Police previously stated that the instruments should be returned or any potential purchaser could be charged with receiving stolen property.

"The continued use of advancing technology and the hard work and determination from our detectives and patrol officers led to the quick recovery of one of the missing instruments," Sarkos said in a news release. "The Atlantic City Police Department embraces technology that allows our officers to investigate and combat crime."   

Sarkos gave CBS News Philadelphia a behind-the-scenes look at the technology used. Their 24/7 surveillance center is called ACHILES — the Atlantic City Headquarters for Intelligence Logistics and Electronic Surveillance.

The Atlantic City police chief said they have access to 3,000 cameras throughout the city, which include both public and privately owned business feeds, thanks to an initiative called  

"By watching those cameras, our detectives were able to track our suspect from the Hard Rock to a couple pawn stores that were closed and then throughout various areas of Atlantic City," Sarkos said. 

On her Instagram page, "fans, fellow musicians, media outlets, and kind-hearted people from around the world" for their support after the theft was announced.

"It means the world to us. Your support has been amazing!" she wrote. Wilson has not yet posted about the recovered guitar.

• Atlantic City
• New Jersey