Internet Helps Nab Philharmonic Violin Burglar

As we mentioned earlier, two rare violins stolen from a member of the Los Angeles Philharmonic were recovered by French authorities last week. The prime suspect in the case raised suspicions, when he offered the instruments for sale to antique dealers for far under their value. However, before purchasing the violins, the dealers went through the internet looking for a more nefarious reason behind the sketchy deal. They found the LAPD’s website which has a page devoted to stolen art, and listed there were the violins in question.

When the man returned to close the deal French Art Police were waiting. LAPD spokesman Lieutenant Paul Vernon, praised the antique dealers, saying, “They apparently knew the value of the violins and smelled a rat.” Their suspect is a Los Angeles man with a record of arrests in Long Beach and L.A.

Photo by little_wing