A bounty of irreplaceable string instruments have been found in a stolen car in Dandenong.
Monash Crime Investigation Unit detectives say the instruments were in the boot of a Mitsubishi Outlander found about 9am on 9 January.
Two days beforehand, they had been stolen during a burglary in Hughesdale.
A man was reported fleeing the area at the time in the Outlander, police say.
Police say they expect to lay charges “in the near future”.
Detective Senior Constable Ethan Hamill said he was glad to be able to return the irreplaceable items to their rightful owner.
“The owner feared that she would never see her instruments again, so I think she’s feeling extremely happy and relieved to have them back.
“While these instruments are worth a lot of money, they are priceless to their owner so it’s a great result to get them back to her in perfect condition.”
The returned items included:
• An A E Smith 1908 antique violin
• Roderich Paesold gold-mounted violin bow
• J S Tubbs silver-mounted antique bow
• 2002 KG Instruments 15-inch handmade viola
• 2002 KG instruments (full size) handmade cello
• Two German Trade ¾ size violins
• Black Chines bow case, containing six iolin bows
• Carbon-fibre cello bow
• Mother-of-pearl mounted wooden cello bow
Any information to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestoppersvic.com.au
