A 331-year-old violin was stolen from a USC student. How police recovered the $650,000 instrument

There’s no less than one encore left for a $650,000 violin stolen from USC this month and thought to have been misplaced eternally.

Los Angeles Police Division detectives introduced Tuesday {that a} Milanese 1694 Giovanni Grancino violin that had been stolen practically two weeks earlier was recovered, and a suspect is in custody.

Det. Stephanie Gutierrez, who led the investigation, stated the instrument appeared unhurt, however a specialist paid for by a personal get together would examine the violin to substantiate its situation.

“I’m a historical past individual, and once I heard this was from 1694, I simply stated, ‘They will’t exchange this’ and it must be discovered,” Gutierrez stated.

The Los Angeles County district lawyer’s workplace confirmed that Jonathan Saldana, 31, has been charged with felony grand theft. He was arrested April 9 and pleaded not responsible April 11.

Saldana is being held within the Pitchess Detention Heart North Facility in Castaic. He’s due again in courtroom April 25.

A name to his public defender was not returned.

Police allege that the suspect, who Gutierrez believes is homeless, adopted a USC graduate pupil into the music division April 2.

The scholar swiped her card for door entry, which police imagine allowed Saldana to slide in behind the coed.

“It’s a safe facility, however the door closes so slowly that anybody can stroll in proper behind,” Gutierrez stated. “I sat throughout from the door, and I might commute 10 instances earlier than it closed.”

USC didn’t reply to questions from The Occasions.

Gutierrez stated surveillance digital camera footage confirmed that the coed was working towards with the 331-year-old violin on a sofa. She then put the instrument down to check.

Throughout that point, Gutierrez stated, Saldana allegedly noticed the violin unattended and walked out with the instrument and its case. He’s additionally accused of stealing a scooter on his approach off campus round 5:30 p.m.

Gutierrez stated she used surveillance footage to determine a county constructing the place Saldana obtained homeless providers.

She finally recognized him and his household’s house. Although he not lived on the home, he stopped by steadily and dropped off laundry, in response to police.

Gutierrez stated Saldana’s step-father confirmed that he noticed Saldana carrying the violin case.

The violin was recovered in an encampment close to West thirty first Avenue and Primary Avenue, not removed from USC.

Gutierrez stated nobody wished to barter with Saldana for the instrument and that one other homeless individual finally stole it. Gutierrez stated she spoke with this particular person, who returned the violin Thursday round 9:30 p.m.

Gutierrez stated the violin had been on mortgage from personal house owners in Los Angeles to a music store in Koreatown, the place it was borrowed by the coed.

“I advised the house owners that, truthfully, the violin was in all probability offered instantly and discovering the suspect could be tough,” Gutierrez stated. “I used to be shocked the violin was nonetheless within the neighborhood, and I’m so pleased we discovered it.”