£1.2mn stolen violin recovered by police

DPA/London

Top violinist Min-Jin Kym yesterday said she was “on cloud nine”, after receiving the news that her 300-year-old Stradivarius instrument, stolen more than two years ago, had been recovered by police.

“I’ve now gone from devastation to the other end of the scale - an incredible feeling of elation that hasn’t left me,” said the 35-year-old. “I’m still feeling the butterflies in my stomach and am on cloud nine.”

The violin, valued at £1.2mn, was stolen from the South Korean-born musician at a cafe near a London train station. Three people were later convicted of stealing it, but the instrument itself was never found.

Police said experts had verified the authenticity of the violin. It is intact, but has some minor damage. It was found last week at a property in the Midlands, alongside two bows worth £67,000, which were stolen at the same time. The theft had been a “crushing blow,” Kym said.

“I’d played the instrument since I was a teenager, so it had been a huge part of my identity for many years. The detectives in the case had always, quite rightly, been very careful not to give me false hope,” she added.

“When they told me the good news, it didn’t feel real.”

Simon Taylor, the detective in charge of the investigation, said he was “absolutely delighted” by the find. “I always maintained that its rarity and distinctiveness would make any attempt to sell it extremely difficult, if not futile, because established arts and antiques dealers would easily recognise it as stolen property,” he said.