The violin was reported stolen from a University of Southern California graduate music student on 2 April and recovered just over one week later
A 331-year-old violin worth $650,000 has been recovered after it was reported stolen from University of Southern California (USC) on 2 April.
The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office has charged Jonathan Saldana, 31, with felony grand theft. He was arrested on 9 April for stealing the Milanese 1694 Giovanni Grancino violin from a USC music graduate student.
The investigation was led by Detective Stephanie Gutierrez of the Los Angeles Police Department. ’I’m a history person, and when I heard this was from 1694, I just said, ”They can’t replace this and it needs to be found,”’ Gutierrez told the LA Times.
Police allege that Saldana followed the student into the USC music department on 2 April. The student swiped her card for door access and the door closed slowly, allowing Saldana to slip in behind her.
Surveillance camera footage showed that the student was practising with the violin, before putting it down to study. Saldana allegedly saw the violin unattended during this time and walked out with the instrument and its case. He is also accused of stealing a scooter as he left the campus.
Saldana, who is believed to be homeless, was identified by Gutierrez through surveillance footage of a county building where Saldana received homeless services.
Gutierrez reports that the violin was stolen by another homeless person, after Saldana failed to barter the instrument. She spoke to that person, and the violin was recovered in an encampment not far from USC on Thursday 10 April.
The violin appears to be unharmed, though a specialist paid for by a private party will further inspect the violin’s condition. The instrument has been on loan from private owners to a music shop in Koreatown, where it was borrowed by the student. Due to privacy concerns, USC is unable to share updates on the student.
Saldana pleaded not guilty on 11 April. He is being held in custody and will appear in court on 25 April.
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