Reward offered after theft of ^1 million antique violin - Euston (29/11/2010)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) press release:

Detectives have launched a public appeal for information following the theft of a 300-year-old antique violin, valued at over ^1 million, at Euston station last week.

A ^15,000 reward has also been issued by Lark Insurance Broking Group and certain Underwriters at Lloyd^s, representing the victim of the theft, for anyone providing information leading to the violin^s recovery.

Detective Inspector Andy Rose, of British Transport Police (BTP), said the incident took place around 8.30pm on Monday, 29 November: ^The victim, a 32-year-old musician, who wishes to remain anonymous, arrived at Euston with her violin before stopping to get something to eat at the Pret A Manger caf^ outside the station,^ said DI Rose. ^Around 9pm, she noticed her black, rectangular violin case had been taken and immediately called police.^

Contained within the case was a 1696 Antonio Stradivarius antique violin, valued at approximately ^1.2 million.  Also in the case were a Peccatte bow, valued at ^62,000, and another bow made by the School of Bazin, valued at more than ^5,000.

The violin also has a number of additional and unique identifying marks, including visible repair marks underneath the instrument^s bridge, as well as a specially-moulded chin strap.

DI Rose added: ^These items hold enormous sentimental and professional value for the victim, but although they are extremely valuable, it would be very difficult to sell them on as they are so rare and distinctive that they will be easily recognised as stolen property. It^s possible the instrument will be offered for sale within the antique or musical trade and we ask anyone who has any knowledge of the violin^s whereabouts to come forward so it can be returned to its rightful owner. I would also like to reiterate that insurers are offering a ^15,000 reward for the recovery of the violin and bows.^

BTP investigators have alerted the Metropolitan Police Arts and Antiques Unit and the items have been registered on the London Stolen Arts Database. However, given Euston^s transport links, detectives believe the items could be in other major English cities, including Liverpool and Newcastle.

Sarah Ottley, Manager of the Musical Instrument Division at Lark Insurance Broking Group, said: "Instruments like this are almost impossible to replace as they are so unique. However, this does mean they are easily recognisable by dealers or repairers. We would urge anyone who might be able to help us reunite the violin and bows with their owner to contact the police or Crimestoppers immediately."

Anyone with information should contact BTP on Freefone 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference B14/LNA of 01/12/10.

Information can also be passed to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

[Tim]

Oh dear.  My wife is a violinist*.  I bet she knows who this was.

* her violin has the advantage of being worth about ^6,000 and having been made by a man who is still alive, so when she drops it it literally goes to meet its maker (a man in Nottingham) who fixes it up and gives it a full service.  It has travelled a long way by train over the years, but she never lets it out of her sight although I did once put it in a boot of our car and drive off with the hatchback open which didn't make me popular.

[LiskeardRich]

this is the 3rd case of expensive instruments vanishing in that area in 18months im aware of, all owned by the same person!!! insurance fraud anyone???

[Tim]

possibly.  These very expensive Stradivariuses are not usually owned by the people who play them (trust me, most violinists would do not earn enough to afford one).  Most are owned by trusts or foundations or academic institutes and loaned out to especially good players.   

[caliwag]

Indeed what sort of clown loses that sort of kit?

If you were travelling with a 50s Strat you would not let it out of your sight...downside of the mobile gadget-obsessed youth?

[grahame]

Just because someone if a brilliant violinist / footballer / singer doesn't mean they're also brilliant at organising their lives with the extra / different pressures that their brilliance brings.   The world seems to be littered with footballers who fall apart away from their keepers (and who have very short careers as managers), and you have only to read the tabloids to see how much support some of the contestants on X factor type programs need ...

[Tim]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/dec/07/stradivarius-violin-stolen-london  gives more details including the poor girls identity.

[mjones]

Indeed what sort of clown loses that sort of kit?

If you were travelling with a 50s Strat you would not let it out of your sight...downside of the mobile gadget-obsessed youth?

I don't really think it is appropriate to pour such scorn on a poor person who has had something stolen. She is the victim of the crime, the only person deserving of condemnation is the scrote who stole it. It shouldn't be necessary to have to be constantly on the look out for thieves while travelling.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm. 

From the original BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) press release:

The victim, a 32-year-old musician, who wishes to remain anonymous ...

From the Daily Mail:

^1.2m Stradivarius stolen as violin star buys a sandwich

A violin worth more than ^1million was stolen from a brilliant musician when she stopped for a ^2.95 sandwich.
Internationally acclaimed violinist Min-Jin Kym, 32, was on her way to catch a train when her Stradivarius, which is more than 300 years old, was stolen by a gang of three opportunist thieves targeting passengers at Euston station in London.
The instrument was in a black case which also contained two valuable bows.
One of only 450 in the world, it will prove difficult to sell as dealers would immediately recognise its unique label and markings.
Insurers have offered a ^15,000 reward for information.
The South Korean-born violinist had stopped at Euston for a sandwich and a coffee with a friend at a branch of Pret a Manger outside the station before travelling to Manchester to visit family and friends.
She placed her violin on the ground for only a short time before it vanished. Hafid Salah, who was working in Pret at the time, said: ^She and her friend were on computers and iPhones and not looking at their bags. She came up to me at the counter and said, ^Have you seen my bag? Call the police. Can you get the CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision)? You have to do something.^ She was really upset and panicking.^
Detectives believe an opportunist gang grabbed the bag without having any idea of its value.
The instrument, worth at least ^1.2million, has identifying repair marks under its bridge. It was on long-term loan to Miss Kym but insurers refused to comment on who owns it.
Yesterday Miss Kym was too distraught to speak about the theft, which took place around 8.30pm last Monday.
She began playing the violin at the age of six and made her international debut with the Berlin Symphony Orchestra when she was 13.
She went on to study with the violin virtuoso Ruggiero Ricci who said she was ^the most talented violinist I have ever worked with^.
Sarah Ottley, of the Lark Insurance Broking Group, which is offering the reward, said: ^Instruments like this are easily recognisable by dealers or repairers. We would urge anyone who might be able to help us to contact the police or Crimestoppers immediately.^

[IndustryInsider]

this is the 3rd case of expensive instruments vanishing in that area in 18months im aware of, all owned by the same person!!! insurance fraud anyone???

Are you suggesting she might be on the fiddle? 

[JayMac]

*groan*

[readytostart]

Shoddy reporting from the Daily Fail, I find it very had to believe that one can buy a sandwich for as little as ^2.95 at Euston!

[LiskeardRich]

this is the 3rd case of expensive instruments vanishing in that area in 18months im aware of, all owned by the same person!!! insurance fraud anyone???

Are you suggesting she might be on the fiddle? 

on the basis of the number of similar cases in that area, all to the same group of musicians, either that or someone is expertly following and taking the opportunity given it!

[onthecushions]

If I owned a ^1.2M wotsit, I wouldn't have someone take it to Manchester Pic, 2nd class.

A job for Securicor, I think.

I'd also pay them sufficient expenses for a hotel meal rather than a coffee shop s/w.

I'm continually surprised how much of the news in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) centres on silliness and stupidity.

OTC

[JayMac]

I'm continually surprised how much of the news in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) centres on silliness and stupidity.

Default setting for journalists perhaps?