Stolen Stradivarius sells for £1,385,000 at auction

18 December 2013, 14:46 | Updated: 30 September 2014, 14:42

A valuable 1696 violin stolen from a sandwich shop at Euston Station in 2010 sold today for £1,385,000.

The thieves struck at a Pret a Manger café outside Euston station on 29 November 2010 as violinist Min-Jin Kym stopped to get something to eat. After three years of chasing leads, police found the instrument, undamaged, in the Midlands - but not before the thieves tried to sell the instrument for £100 in an internet café.

Previous owner Min-Jin Kym said: "This violin was a faithful friend for many years and I was devastated by its loss. Its recovery is an absolute relief and I am eager to hear the violin onstage once more and I wish its next owner all the best of luck and success."

At the time of theft news reports valued the violin at £1.2 million. Online bidding at Tarisio auction house started £1 million, and although the final price was expected to reach around £2 million, the violin was sold for £1,385,000. A portion of the proceeds and sales commission will benefit the authorities who will help recover the violin.