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Stolen Stradivarius violin valued at $5 million found, report says

Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond plays a 300-year-old Stradivarius violin, which was later stolen in January. Authorities have recovered the instrument, valued at $5 million, according to reports.
(Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra / AP)
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A 300-year-old Stradivarius violin that was stolen last month from the concertmaster of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has been recovered by authorities, according to a Thursday report from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. [Updated: Milwaukee police confirmed the recovery of the violin on Thursday.]

Milwaukee police said Wednesday that three suspects -- two men, ages 42 and 36, and a woman, 32 -- were arrested in connection with the crime and remained in police custody. The violin -- which is valued at $5 million -- was taken from Milwaukee Symphony concertmaster Frank Almond during an armed robbery on Jan. 27.

Robbers used a stun gun on the violinist after a concert at Wisconsin Lutheran College in suburban Milwaukee, according to reports.

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A news conference on the recovery of the violin was expected Thursday.

The violin is believed to be in good condition, according to the Journal Sentinel report. Known as the Lipinski Strad, the instrument is dated from 1715. The violin case was recovered shortly after the robbery.

A $100,000 reward had been offered for information leading to the instrument’s safe recovery. The violin is on indefinite loan to Almond by an anonymous owner, according to the Milwaukee Symphony.

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In addition to serving as concertmaster for the orchestra, Almond is listed as a lecturer at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.

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