[CPProt.net] Quick action leads to recovery of rare violin

[Ellie Bruggeman]

Quick action leads to recovery of rare violin

A man who was attempting to sell a stolen rare violin was arrested just 
hours later in an impressive example of how art professionals, Interpol 
National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and officers at the Interpol General 
Secretariat <http://www.interpol.int/Public/icpo/governance/default.asp> 
can work together to fight the theft of important works of art 
<http://www.interpol.int/Public/WorkOfArt/Default.asp>.

The violin, made by master craftsman Giovanni Grancino in Italy in 1715, 
was included in Interpol’s database and CD-ROM of stolen works of art. 
It was estimated to be worth 120,000 euros.

The man approached a violin maker in Utrecht, the Netherlands, offering 
to sell the item. The violin maker recognised the violin from a 
professional bulletin which reported the instrument as stolen and listed 
Interpol as the contact.

Quick police work was essential to the case. The violin maker contacted 
Interpol at 9 a.m. and informed officers that the man would return to 
his workshop at 1 p.m.

Officers at the General Secretariat immediately contacted NCBs in the 
Netherlands and Luxembourg, where the violin had been reported stolen. 
Dutch police arrested the man when he returned to pick up the violin.

Specialised officers at the General Secretariat said more successes like 
this one would be possible if art professionals remain vigilant and if 
member countries report their stolen works of art to Interpol for 
inclusion in its database and CD-ROMs.

http://www.interpol.int/