Rare violin stolen from midtown Tulsa home

The search for a rare item swiped in a burglary leads the victim to Facebook, pawn shops and local musicians.

“I’ve been victimized too many times in the last year to sit back and take it anymore,”
said Maggie.

During their second home-break in the last year, the burglar stole a rare violin.

The victim said the one-of-a-kind violin is priceless.

It was stolen in a Midtown Tulsa home on June 27th, and within an hour someone tried to pawn the instrument.

Golden Pawn II is the first pawn shop where the victim said she started her detective work.

The pawn shop is known for buying and selling musical instruments.

She said the workers recognized the violin and showed her the surveillance video from the day of the home break in. She said the surveillance video shows within hours of the home break-in someone was seen trying to sell the rare violin.

Golden Pawn II turned the man away and wouldn’t buy it.

"That's it. He has it. What am I going to do now?" said the victim.

Sydney is still searching for her violin. She started playing when she was five-years-old.

"I chose it personally for its sound,” said Sydney.

She named her violin Thorsten.

"It needed a strong German name because it was a German violin,” said Sydney.

Sydney traveled to Ireland, Austria and Argentina as part of her violin performance history and training and bought the 1880’s, German, handmade violin in Tulsa. 

It took her her a while to find the right violin but Thorsten was the one where she connected with its sound.

"Pulled myself out through the instrument,” said Sydney.

Thorsten was a graduation gift from her grandparents.

"It's not an object,” said Sydney.

However, a thief thought it was an object and someone tried to make some quick cash.

"It's a part of who she is. So it's a part of my child that is missing,” said Sydney’s mother Maggie. “I know life is not fair, but this is beyond not fair. This is just not right."

Sydney and her mother have also reached out on Facebook.

"I just want my violin back,” said Sydney.

She was planning to bring Thorsten when she attends Drury University next month to study music therapy.

"Do whatever you need to do to get this violin back to my child,” said Maggie.

Sydney’s Irish Claddagh ring and Lenova laptop that was given to her for graduation to be used for college were also stolen.

The violin has one tuner and a slight scratch at the top of the bridge.

Oklahoma state law requires pawn shops to report their receipts to law enforcement who can check for stolen items. In Tulsa, some pawn shops voluntarily send their receipts electronically to Tulsa police.

Police are not calling the man seen in the video a suspect but would like to identify the man so they can speak with him.

If you have any information call Crime Stoppers at (918) 596-COPS (2677) or text a tip to “CRIMES” (274637) and begin your message with “TIP918” or you can submit a tip online at www.tipsubmit.com. Remember you never have to give your name and your tip could lead to a cash reward.