London Police Seek Public Help Following $200,000 Violin Theft

Tue Oct 21 2025 13:12:57 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Authorities are on the lookout for a missing 285-year-old violin stolen from a musician in a pub, urging witnesses to come forward with information.

The London Philharmonia orchestra member David López Ibáñez has lost his prized 1740 violin, valued at $200,000, to a theft that occurred during a night out last February. London police are requesting public assistance to locate the suspect responsible for the crime.

On a chilly February evening, musician David López Ibáñez set out to enjoy a regular night after rehearsing with the London Philharmonia orchestra, where he is a member. After a productive day, he and a friend stopped at a nearby pub for dinner and drinks. In a moment of distraction, López Ibáñez leaned his 285-year-old violin against a bench, only to discover moments later that it was taken.

"I stood up in disbelief," said López Ibáñez, expressing the overwhelming emotions felt upon realizing the precious instrument was gone. The stolen violin is no ordinary piece; crafted by master luthier Lorenzo Carcassi in 1740, this exquisite instrument holds sentimental and monetary value, estimated at over $200,000.

Reflecting on the incident, López Ibáñez shared, "You let your guard down for a second... It felt like the world was collapsing on top of me." The emotional connection between a musician and their instrument is profound, making the theft all the more distressing for López Ibáñez, who had played on the violin for eight years, performing globally.

As investigations proceed, the London police are calling upon the public for assistance in identifying the suspect, who allegedly concealed the violin case under a beige coat while exiting the pub. The community’s input could prove vital in recovering this irreplaceable piece of musical history.