Eloise HorsfieldIT sounds like something out of a James Bond movie.
In an unlikely heist, US violinist Joshua Bell has had his 29,000-euro Breguet watch swiped from his Spanish hotel room – by ‘a lookalike’ who even ‘took a shower’ as part of the theft.
A man posing as Bell managed to convince hotel staff in Zaragoza to hand over the key to the musician’s room.
Once inside, the audacious thief even rang reception for help in getting open ‘his’ safe, opening the door to security wrapped in a towel as if he had just got out of the shower.
“I was amazed at how easy it was for this to occur,” said the violinist, whose laptop and cash were also pinched.
Thankfully Bell’s three million-euro 1713 Stradivarius violin was safe – he was using it to perform Brahms’ violin concerto at the time, as part of his tour as a soloist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
It seems that “Security Procedures” at the Hotel leave “a bit to be desired” – but then they have insurance I’m sure.
Thankfully the Stradi was not stolen, even tho such a violin has a limited market – it would still “disappear”
J. Molitor