Vienna police arrest suspects in €27,000 violin theft

A 59‑year‑old woman left a violin valued at €27,000 in the luggage compartment of a train at Vienna’s Hauptbahnhof on Friday. A 24‑year‑old cleaning‑staff employee discovered the instrument, kept it and sought to sell it, involving a 23‑year‑old friend.

The two men approached a violin shop to gauge the price, but the manufacturer, alerted by the owner, notified police. When the accomplice entered the shop with the violin, officers were already waiting. Both suspects were arrested, confessed to the theft and attempted fencing, and were released on bail pending trial on charges of serious theft and attempted illegal resale.