Posted on 02/05/2014 8:12:56 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic
Three people have been arrested in connection with the robbery of a priceless Stradivarius violin, but the instrument has not been found, police said Wednesday.
The three suspects — two men, ages 42 and 36, and a woman, 32 — were arrested Monday morning at their respective Milwaukee residences and remained in police custody Wednesday. One of the suspects has been linked to a prior art theft.
The violin, crafted in 1715 and known as the Lipinski Strad after a former owner, was stolen from Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond during an armed robbery Jan. 27. Almond had played the instrument during a performance earlier at Wisconsin Lutheran College. The violin's case was found later that night on Milwaukee's north side. The getaway van, an older model maroon minivan, has not been located.
"We emphasize at this time that although we made arrests we have not yet recovered the violin," Milwaukee Police Chief Edward Flynn said at a news conference Wednesday.
Flynn said he did not want to speculate, but when asked, he said there's "a good chance" the violin is still in Milwaukee. Investigators received information that pointed to the suspects and physical evidence that specifically linked one of them to the crime, he said.
"At this point we don't have any indication they were working for anyone but themselves," Flynn said.
A $100,000 reward has been offered for information that results in the safe return of the Lipinski Strad. The chief said the reward may have induced tipsters to provide information that led to the three arrests.
"(The violin) is not something that can be disposed of at some future date. It will never be valuable for a thief. It's only value is for a collector," Flynn said. "
(Excerpt) Read more at jsonline.com ...
I hope they get their banjo back so maybe these threads will go away..
There is no dishonor in a double post....
“I guess all 3 names have been released: Universal Allah, Salah Jones and Latoya Atlas were arrested by Milwaukee Police Monday.”
No Comment (needed).
Universal Allah????
You know how you can tell the difference?
You don't spill beer on a violin.
It is kindling by now. No one will turn it in nor will it be recovered. No collector is stupid enough to hire Universal or Latoya to steal a priceless instrument. Tweak is a bad drug and. I put my money it was sold for meth, or purple drank. Just my hunch.
Universal Allah; A grandiose name for a petty dirt-bag criminal. Maybe a name like that is too much a burden, impossible for most to live up to the impact of such a label, so a weak person take the easy way out of being responsible, they stop even trying to live a good life, feeling, perhaps ,they could never measure up anyway, so why sweat it? I met someone years ago with the name John Kennedy Sharif, I;m spelling it differently here. John approach to making a living was similiar to Universal’s.
Am I the only one to detect the clammy hand of Moriarity in this affair? Come Watson! The game is afoot!
You’re probably right - it was just a crime of opportunity committed by some street thugs, and now the violin is at the bottom of a river somewhere or smashed in a dumpster.
I did notice, however, that the first article mentioned that one of these three had been involved in an earlier “art theft,” so I suppose there’s still a possibility that they were working on commission.
The story mentioned that they had dumped the case near where they stole the violin, probably, as someone here suggested, because they thought it had a tracking device (which it no doubt did). That indicates at least some awareness that what they were stealing wasn’t just any old fiddle to be sold for a bag of meth.
But as you say, who in their right mind would hire somebody named “Universal Allah” for the job?
Don’t need no picture. The names tell me all I need to know! Amish, indeed!
Mr. Universe to you.
If you are not interested in this case, don’t click on the thread!
As I understand it..the violin is owned by a non-musician, who allows the musician to use it, as it should be, for a great instrument deserves to be played, and heard. This is a fairly common practice..
I assume it's insured...wonder if the premium is paid by the owner, or possibly the orchestra, or the user?
As compared to, say, a piece of jewelry worth millions, which the policy usually requires be kept is a vault except on the few occasions when it's taken out to be worn, this violin is out and about all the time..planes, taxis, carried on the street..
Maybe it was an aspiring rapper.
Think of the street cred. Instantly famous. 6 million dollar heist. Do some time in the joint (more street cred) then... PROFIT!
“Universal Allah, Salah Jones and Latoya Atlas...”
Sounds like SOME kind of stage names.
Violin has been recovered: http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/Police-recover-stolen-Stradivarius-violin-243934001.html
“Am I the only one to detect the clammy hand of Moriarity in this affair? Come Watson! The game is afoot!”
Freepers like you are one of the reasons I LOVE FR so much!
One of the PERPS is related to CongressCritter Gwen Moore!
Gwen Moore’s SON (Supreme Allah Somethingorother) is the one who slashed tires of Republican Voter Vans during the 2008 (?) Presidential election!
“Auntie” is sister to Gwen Moore.
What a racket!
I think the owner holds the policy, but there may be event coverage by the orchestra, too.
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