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Sour note in Allston: Somebody steals a $70,000 viola

By adamg on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 9:05am
Photos of the stolen viola and its case

Photos of the stolen viola and its case via BPD.

Boston Police report they are looking for a viola stolen from an address on Glenville Avenue in Allston sometime between 2 a.m. and 3:50 p.m. on Sunday.

The Viola is described as 16.5 inches long, valued at approximately $70,000 and stored inside a black BAM Black Panther HighTech case valued at $1,300 with two Boston University stickers, and a Vivant Vintage sticker.

If somebody offers you a fancy looking viola in a case adorned with BU stickers, contact detectives at 617-343-4256 or the anonymous tip line by calling 800-494-TIPS or by texting TIP to CRIME (27463).

Neighborhoods: 
Allston
Topics: 
Crime
Free tagging: 
Glenville Avenue
music
Boston University


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Comments

By cybah on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 9:19am.

I haven't bought a non-electronic instrument since I was in elementary school but are these just that expensive?

70k seems like a lot.

By anon on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 9:41am.

It’s expensive but not too out of the ordinary for a really fine string instrument, especially if it’s used professionally.

By BostonDog on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 9:46am.

Given the stickers I'm guessing this person is a professional player or at least someone who was spending $$$ to attend a conservatory and therefor was going to have a high level instrument.

An instrument isn't the sort of thing you can just leave in a vault. (At least not if you want to be considered a master.)

By Fenway Crank on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 10:23am.

$70k is about entry level for a serious professional string player

it’s crazy but true

By cybah on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 10:55am.

That is crazy.

Thanks all for replying. I truly wasn't being snarky.. the estimated price just took the air out of me. Wow.

Yeah I'd be beyond upset if it was stolen then.

By Nicole A on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 11:18am.

There was a wonderful memoir written a few years back by Min Kym about her experience (as a professional violinist) having her (really expensive) violin stolen:
https://www.npr.org/2017/05/07/526924474/her-violin-stolen-a-prodigys-wo...

By jmeltzer on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 3:11pm.

it would be worth six figures at least. :-)

By Rwgfy on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 9:20am.

Here is a TIP: don't leave your musical instruments out on the street by the dumpsters late at night.

By BostonDog on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 9:41am.

Edit: I guess the person really did leave their instrument unattended. I'm guessing there's more to the story.

I stand by my fuck off comment.

Fuck off.

By Rwgfy on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 10:00am.

Do you work for the city?

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/08/29/metro/viola-allegedly-stolen-tune...

By Plen-T-Pak on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 1:02pm.

Wow, thanks for the link. They left this along with a credit card, iPad pro, passport, and luggage outside behind the building overnight, unattended. I've lost my sympathy for this person.

By berkleealum on Thu, 08/31/2023 - 1:36pm.

or did they want help getting their stuff back?

By Plen-T-Pak on Fri, 09/01/2023 - 10:55pm.

Why would they ask me for anything? I have nothing to do with it, along with virtually everyone who reads this article or comments on it. I do think it's noteworthy that someone in possession of something more expensive than what most of us can afford would be so negligent.

By Ron Newman on Wed, 08/30/2023 - 11:50am.

The time Yo-Yo Ma left his Stradivarius cello in the back of a New York cab...