Stolen violin recovered from criminal gang

8 November 2012, 12:16 | Updated: 8 November 2012, 12:35

A violin owned by a member of Sydney Symphony Orchestra has been recovered by Austrian police, after it was stolen from the Vienna Underground in September.

A stolen violin valued at around £35,000 was recovered over the weekend by police in Vienna. The instrument has been returned to its owner, Emma West, Assistant Principal Second Violinist at the Sydney Symphony Orchestra after it was stolen on the Vienna Underground on September 15 this year.

The violinist was travelling on a local train running between the city and the airport when the violin, made by Patrick Robin in 2010, and two bows, were stolen. Police searched the flats of a professional gang who have been stealing from tourists, and found the violin in one of the properties.

Ms West said: "I am really happy that I've got the instrument back in my hands again – I really didn't think I was ever going to see it again."

In August, a violin of a similar value was stolen from a car park in Vancouver. It was safely returned to its owner, student Yun Hee Kim.