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 ...
3 Arrested in Theft of Stradivarius. Violin NOT recovered.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Wisconsin interest ping list.
“...It will never be valuable for a thief. It’s only value is for a collector,” Flynn said.
Hmmm.
“...It will never be valuable for a thief. It’s only value is for a collector,” Flynn said.
Hmmm.
I hope they get it back.
I did not double post. There is something screwy with servers or something....
The violin's case was found later that night on Milwaukee's north side. my guess is, it had or they THOUGHT it had a tracker in it...
This Almond is a nut!
I caanot find any pictures of the 3 arrested. Anybody have any? Also, I saw on twitter an aunt of 1 of the men arrested says her nephew is innocent (ya, surrre he is) and her house was raided by the FBI.
Their names have not been released yet. Therefore, no pictures have been released.
Before it gets recovered hope it gets one romp stompin’ session in a Texas dancehall. A fiddle like that deserves some class sometimes.
yup, I don’t think you steal a $6M violin on spec. You steal it because someone has offered to pay you a big chunk of change to steal it for them. Hopefully at least one more arrest to come.
water-boarding might help locate the violin...
The case was found on the Milwaukee’s north side.
This is solid Amish country.
These are good boys just turning their life around.
They are taking music lessons and need a violin.
I’m sure you understand that!
News guy from channel 4 mentioned 1 name on twitter:
@ToddHicks4 #BreakingNews update : aunt of #Stradivarius #Violin suspect says her nephew #SalahJones is innocent - her house was raided by the #FBI
Oh, I’m familiar with the north side. I’m from Wisconsin.
I’m sure they were “good boys turning their life around”
I guess all 3 names have been released: Universal Allah, Salah Jones and Latoya Atlas were arrested by Milwaukee Police Monday.
http://www.620wtmj.com/news/local/Aunt-of-violin-theft-suspect-claims-her-home-raided-by-police-FBI-243862921.html?lc=Smart
Bingo! I was thinking the same thing. Special crime requires special time.
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