By Sara Gomez, October 21, 2025
The music department and mariachi program were robbed of nine moños, a guitar case and Salinas vihuela, Sept. 25.
The robber also left two empty cans of Cutwater tequila, and a paloma cocktail drink spilled all over the cabinets and floor.
The mariachi class is not only devastated and broken by this loss, but its members also feel targeted by the disrespectful act and have lost their connection to an instrument that is no longer theirs.
“It’s definitely a sign of disrespect,” said Franciso Hernandez, a lecturer in the Music Department and director of the mariachi band. “Those instruments represent a part of my identity. Well, unfortunately, it was. It’s disheartening and feels targeted and hurtful.”
The item stolen of the most significance to the department and students was the vihuela. Originally handmade in Mexico, students and faculty used the instrument for practice, shows and most importantly the mariachi sound.
Hernandez said an artist’s instrument becomes who they are and shows how they accomplished. It creates memories and relationships that no one can replicate.
Hernandez also shared how this loss wasn’t just heavy on himself but on students as well. Instruments are provided for the mariachi program by the school, so the robbery of these resources affects every student.
The Salinas vihuela was especially irreplaceable, as it was originally obtained by Juan Jimenez, a mariachi artist from Michigan and a former band member of “Los Camperos” who died from COVID-19. Hernandez said he was kind enough to provide these instruments to the program before his loss.
Jimenez went above and beyond for the students in the mariachi program, said Mariachi director and associate professor of music Jessie Vallejo.
“He’d stay extra time after class,” Vallejo said. “He’d offer free lessons to students. I see him as being like the Padrino of the mariachi ensemble. He helped us, and to have that instrument taken, I think it’s extra hurtful to the students into mariachi music in general because of how special it was and as a gift from him specifically.”
CPP alumna Alessies Avina was the first student to join and graduate from the mariachi program. She’s had plenty of experience with these instruments, she said.
“I think stealing and leaving anything behind is an act of disrespect,” Avina said. “Out of all the ensembles they could have stolen from, I am not sure why they picked mariachi and why these specific items?”
Vallejo said they could replace the nine moños, but as for the rest of the items, they are gone. The vihuela was the last connection they had left too Jimenez.
“Stealing these instruments takes away that connection we held onto (Jimenez),” Hernandez said. “That was just kind of our way to always keep him in our minds through those instruments. It is almost disrespectful that someone would steal the vihuela.”
Vallejo shared the investigation is still ongoing for the case; the university police have opened an active investigation. She said no one has come forward; the robber is still unknown and could possibly be a student or someone remarkably close to the department. Vallejo said the band will play with caution until the perpetrator is arrested.
