International student's $38k violin stolen after she fled bus in fear

Author: Tom Rose,
Publish Date: Thu, 6 Aug 2026, 8:43pm

An international student is trying to recover her high-value violin after it was stolen from a New Lynn bus.

Longrui Zhu, 22, was travelling from New Lynn station into central Auckland about 9am Saturday with her prized Wang violin when she was forced to leave the bus because of an intimidating passenger.

During the incident, she left her violin, which her parents had bought from a “highly skilled luthier” in China for about ¥150,000 ($37,762), on board.

Despite realising she had left her prized instrument behind and calling Auckland Transport (AT) and the police immediately, she was too late and it was quickly snatched.

“I feel heartbroken because that violin is really, really important to me ... I cannot sleep or eat.”

Police told the Herald they were notified of a violin theft on a West Auckland bus over the weekend and were reviewing CCTV amid ongoing inquiries.

How the incident unfolded

During the journey, Zhu said a passenger at the rear of the bus, who she described as a middle-aged man of Māori or Pasifika descent with a ponytail and sunglasses, began glaring at her.

“I quickly felt unwell and unsafe, so I got off at the middle of the bus [route] on Walmer Rd.

“That guy quickly picked up my violin, and he got off the bus on Karangahape Rd.”

Longrui Zhu, 22, says she left her $38,000 violin on the Route 18 bus after being intimidated by an older male passenger.

Zhu said she immediately called AT and police after realising she’d left her violin behind, but by then it was “too late”.

“I went to a lot of music shops, cash converters and dollar dealers.

“They said they hadn’t received any violins recently.

“I’ve also tried my best to get to some [city] missions, and some different kind of homeless communities, and ... figure out if that guy was there.”

While she knew CCTV had captured the man’s face – and him disembarking with the instrument about 10.20am – there had been no breakthrough in finding either since the incident.

Zhu says the male passenger made off with her violin after making her feeling "unwell and unsafe".

Zhu said she’d tried to obtain an image of the alleged offender from CCTV, hoping to share his face on social media to raise awareness, but “unfortunately, police said it’s kind of a privacy [matter]”.

Having studied violin since she was 7, Zhu moved from China to New Zealand to pursue a Bachelor of Music at the University of Auckland.

“I’ve even joined the Auckland University orchestra.”

Police are reviewing CCTV and appealing for the public's help after the incident on Route 18. Photo / Annaleise Shortland

She pleaded for authorities to investigate the matter promptly, saying the custom-made instrument was akin to her own baby.

“I just want my violin back, because this is really, really important to me.”

Police confirmed they received a report “of a theft of a violin from a bus in New Lynn over the weekend”, believed to have occurred about 10am Saturday.

“CCTV from the scene is being reviewed and inquiries are ongoing,” a police spokesperson told the Herald.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact police through 105 online or by phone, referencing file number 260802/2089.

“Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.”