Looking for a stolen instrument can become a full-time job. I believe that what happens, in the end, is likely whatever you make happen. The good news is there's a high probability the instrument is out there somewhere. Nobody has cut it up to make match sticks. It's just a matter of finding it. I referred to it as "adult hide-and-seek".

It's hard-very hard-to figure out how far and wide to look and where to concentrate your efforts. In our case, we thought it was logical to concentrate first on Puget Sound and then broaden our efforts to the Northwest and then to the Western States. It was very hard psychologically to come to grips with the prospect that our instrument might be somewhere in Southern California, but it was certainly not out of the range of possibility. On the other hand, it's perfectly logical to suspect that a Strad cello stolen in California might end up in a cloistered private Far-East collection; and equally illogical, but in the end reality, that it is found in a dumpster a few blocks from its home.

At the end of the day, we recovered our viola through the quick work of a violin maker in Spokane. The thief brought the instrument in asking if he would buy it. The violin maker realized the viola and the individual didn't go together, so to speak, and that it was stolen, and so he offered $200. The violin maker bought the viola, got the guy's name and address, and called David VanZandt, the maker, in Seattle. David called me, and the Bellevue police. The arrested him, and he received a prison sentence of eight years.

What we did:

1. Most important is putting the word out as broadly as possible. We were fortunate to have excellent digital photographs of the instrument from the maker. We made a one-page information sheet at a copy center, with the pictures on one side and the description and contact information on the other. Then we took them to all the shops in the Puget Sound area, and mailed to many others. See Viola Description and Photos below. How broadly you mail them depends on how much you can spend on postage.

2. We published the information through Michael Vann's website (vannbows.bc.ca). This list is now maintained by the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers and can be viewed at: http://www.afvbm.com/lostandstolen.htm

3. We published notices in the local and on-line newspaper classified ads.

4. We called people, and emailed, to let them know. We asked people to refer us to others; usually they did. Even the big auction-houses helped.

5. We contacted the well-known dealers, such as Bein & Fushi. I've worked with Alec in the past. Also, Pam Anderson at Wm. Moenning & Son was particularly helpful.

6. We listed with the Art Loss Register. If the instrument is recovered as a result of their listing and publication, they get a fee of 15% of the value of the instrument. (But, to be clear, only if it is directly attributable to their listing.)

Amanda Hannon
The Art Loss Register
20 East 46th Street, Suite 1402
New York, NY 10017
ahannon@alrny.com

7. We looked, ourselves:
a. We searched all the local pawn shops, regularly. The pawn-shop owners are very unhelpful, and this is probably a waste of time. But if you don't, you feel like you've left a stone unturned.
b. We visited all the big swap-meets in the Puget Sound area, every Saturday and Sunday. These are an eye-opening cultural experience, but probably not where you're going to find an expensive instrument. Again, though, we felt like we had to cover all the bases.
c. We visited all the instrument shops in the area.
d. We nightly checked eBay. In the end, not where we found it, but there are many instruments for sale there. Most are junk, but it's an outlet for someone looking to sell.

8. We worked with the Bellevue Police Department. They were very helpful, both initially, and at the time of and immediately after the arrest, in Spokane. They assigned two detectives to the case (keep in mind there's also a significant amount of jewelry they're looking for).

9. We talked with people about hiring a private investigator. The instrument was recovered before we got to this step, but I was prepared to do it.

10. We talked with our insurance company, several times, about what help they would give us. The short answer is, none. You'd think they have a vested interest in helping find the instrument, to save the replacement cost. But they would rather pay immediately and be done, than help. I literally asked if I hired an investigator and he located and recovered the instrument, would they pay that cost (only if it was recovered) if the cost were less than the replacement cost. They said, No. Go figure. Unless this young lady's instrument is extremely valuable-meaning six-figures, at
least-she can probably expect no help from her insurance company until she's ready to pick up a check.

11. And on that note, our insurance company literally wrote us a check immediately. I DID NOT CASH IT, and this is very important. If she collects a check and cashes it, and then the instrument is recovered, it is THE INSURANCE COMPANY'S instrument. They may sell it back to her. But count on a hassle, at best.

12. I sought legal advice on dealing with my insurance company. I strongly suggest she do the same; the sooner, the better. Perhaps the insurance industry works differently in Berlin, but I think legal advice early-on would be worth the effort.

How we got out the word:

Viola Description

Description of stolen Van Zandt #64 viola (15 ¾”) and Voirin viola bow, both in rectangular black case.

Stolen from a private residence in Bellevue, Washington, on March 30, 2004.

The two-piece back is of quarter-cut maple with even, medium-wide figure that fades slightly toward the flanks. The sides of the instrument are of quartered maple with slightly irregular width figure that is slightly more prominent than that of the back. The one-piece back and scroll is of maple less prominently figured than either the back or the sides.

The two piece top is of quarter-cut spruce with medium-fine grain spacing. The grain widens only very slightly toward the flanks.

Body length 398mm (~15 ¾”)
Width at upper bout 189mm
Width at “C” bout 134mm
Width at lower bout 244+mm

The viola is labeled inside with the maker’s name, year of construction, and number:

David T. Van Zandt
2000
#64

The instrument is further identifiable by the maker.

Numerous photos of the instrument are available online at
www.vanzandtviolins.com/vla64.htm

Bow

Also stolen, a viola bow with octagonal stick, stamped F N Voirin a Paris, faintly visible.

Contact:

Phil Osborn
Phone number
email address
OR
Bellevue (Washington) Police Department

Photos of the Stolen Viola