[MSN] $100K Violin Reported Stolen From Car. MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (AP) - For Nicolas Orbovich, losing his violin was like losing a member of the family.

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$100K Violin Reported Stolen From Car

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (AP) - For Nicolas Orbovich, losing his violin was like
losing a member of the family.

A concert violinist, Orbovich said he left his instrument, made in 1892 and
worth $100,000, in its case and on the backseat of his car Saturday in a
parking lot in this northwestern Indiana city. He left the doors unlocked.

He said he returned less than five minutes later and, as he drove off, he
realized it was gone.

"I'm devastated. It's like losing an immediate family member," said
Orbovich, a performer with the South Bend Symphony Orchestra. "If I leave
for any amount of time, I always take it with me. It's just something I
never figured would happen."

Orbovich called the police and frantically searched the parking lot. He also
began contacting area pawn shops.

According to Orbovich, a nearby shop reported a woman brought in a violin
within the hour. But, suspecting it was stolen, the shop didn't accept the
vintage musical instrument.

Orbovich said that inside the violin is a clearly marked label containing
the name of the maker, Jerome Squier, and that it was made in 1892 in
Boston. He said he has been playing it since he enrolled in music school in
1985.

He's offering an unspecified cash reward for its safe return.

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