School of Rock actor Joseph Gaydos charged with stealing guitars

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The actor who played a young guitar prodigy in Jack Black’s School of Rock is facing felony theft charges for allegedly stealing several expensive guitars.

On Wednesday, the authorities said Joseph “Joey” Gaydos Jr, who played Zac Mooneyham or “Zac Attack” in the 2003 movie, was arrested for swiping expensive guitars from several music stores in the span of five weeks. He was arrested on February 25.

The 27-year-old’s police and arrest records show shoplifting cases in Sarasota, Venice and North Port.

He stole an $800 Les Paul Epiphone Prophecy guitar from a North Port store on January 31. About one week later, he was seen allegedly stealing a $699 black Fender Stratocaster from Troll Music in Venice. Law enforcement said video surveillance footage shows Mr Gaydos strapping on a guitar and casually walking the store floor while playing it.

"When will thieves learn that almost all establishments have cameras? This sticky-fingered bandit made off with a guitar while the employee was distracted," a police statement read, after requesting help from the public.

The footage from the Troll Music store reportedly helped lead to his arrest, Venice police spokeswoman Lorraine Anderson told NBC News.

On February 11, Mr Gaydos was arrested for allegedly stealing a $1,900 guitar from the Sam Ash Music Store in Sarasota.

"I need to be arrested. I stole the guitar," he allegedly told the officer arresting him.

Mr Gaydos has been charged with two counts of grand theft and one for shoplifting.

Authorities said that the music aficionado admitted to stealing the guitars and blaming them on a drug problem. However, Mr Gaydos reportedly pleaded not guilty in court.

Per IMDB, School of Rock is the only acting credit listed for Mr Gaydos.