Bach home: $38,000 violin allegedly stolen from bus returned to owner

A violin worth nearly $38,000 has been returned to its owner after it was allegedly stolen from an Auckland bus and hidden in a linen cupboard ceiling cavity. 

Longrui Zhu, 22, was travelling from New Lynn station into central Auckland about 9am on August 1, when she was forced to leave the bus because of an intimidating passenger, and left her prized instrument on board. 

A gift from her parents, the Wang violin was bought from a “highly skilled luthier” in China for about ¥150,000 ($37,762). 

By the time Zhu reported the matter to police and Auckland Transport (AT), the violin had been taken from the bus. 

Auckland City West area prevention manager Inspector Wayne Kitcher said the theft took a major toll on Zhu. 

“Staff had reviewed CCTV and, as a result, been making inquiries. 

A woman has been reunited with her prized violin after it was allegedly stolen from a bus in New Lynn. 

“On Wednesday, police executed a search warrant at a property in Rānui, where we subsequently located the violin concealed within the ceiling cavity of a linen cupboard.” 

A 38-year-old man was charged with theft and is due to reappear in Auckland District Court on January 13. A 39-year-old woman was remanded in custody to appear in Auckland District Court on November 19, charged with receiving property. 

“This was a stressful ordeal for the owner, and we are pleased to not only have recovered the violin, but to hold these people to account for their actions.” 

Zhu previously told the Herald that the incident had left her “heartbroken” and that she couldn’t “sleep or eat” because of how important the violin was. 

How the incident unfolded 

During her August bus journey, a man near the back of the bus began glaring at her, Zhu said. 

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

The man allegedly picked up the violin and left the bus at Karangahape Rd. 

Zhu said she visited music shops, pawn shops and dollar dealers, but none had received any violins.