Rare £150,000 18th-Century Violin Stolen from Islington Pub
The Met Police are urgently hunting a crook who pinched a priceless 18th-century violin worth over £150,000 from a pub in Islington. The historic instrument vanished from The Marquess Tavern on Canonbury Street on the evening of Tuesday, 18 February.
Valuable 1740 Florence Violin Stolen
The stolen violin, crafted in Florence in 1740, isn’t just valuable cash-wise — it’s a masterpiece famed for its craftsmanship and top-tier performance quality. The 30-year-old victim, a Philharmonia Orchestra member, told officers the violin is “incredibly precious” and “priceless” to them. It was briefly left unattended at the pub when it vanished.
Police Release CCTV in Bid to Nab Thief
PC Michael Collins from the Camden and Islington local policing team revealed police are working flat out to track down the suspect. They’ve put out CCTV images captured inside the pub just before the theft, hoping the public can ID the culprit.
“We’ve been working hard to locate the suspect and are releasing CCTV to help identify them as soon as possible,” said PC Collins.
“The victim has told us the violin is worth more than £150,000 and is incredibly precious — for them, it’s priceless.”
The violin hasn’t been recovered and police fear it may already have been sold on the black market for high-value instruments.
Spot the Thief? How to Help the Hunt
Anyone recognising the suspect in the CCTV or with info on the theft or violin’s whereabouts should contact the police immediately:
- Call 101 quoting reference 01/7178074/25
- Tweet @MetCC
- Or tip off Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org
Help catch the thief and bring a priceless piece of musical history back to its rightful owner!
