Stradivarius cello valued at $3.5 million stolen from LA home

By: Associated Press - | Tuesday, April 27, 2004 10:36 PM PDT ∞

LOS ANGELES -- A 17th-century cello made by master craftsman Antonio Stradivari was stolen from a home during the weekend, authorities said Tuesday.

The 1684 cello, valued at $3.5 million, was one of only about 60 made by Stradivari and was purchased by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association about three decades ago, said association spokeswoman Elizabeth Hinckley.

It was played by Philharmonic principal cellist Peter Stumpf, who was out of town when the theft occurred at a Los Feliz home Saturday night or Sunday morning. There were no signs of a break-in, Hinckley said.

Detective Donald Hrycyk said police have questioned others who were at the home at the time, but "there's nothing that would point to any of the occupants at being involved in this."

The cello was last seen inside a silver-coated plastic case.

The instrument was nicknamed the "General Kyd" for the man who brought it to England near the end of the 18th century. Cellist Leo Stern performed the British premiere of Dvorak's famous cello concerto on the instrument in 1896.

"It's one of the most prized string instruments in the world," Hinckley said. "It's in wonderful condition, and the organization just really wants it back in good condition."

Born in 1644, Stradivari made violins, harps, guitars, violas and cellos in his Cremona, Italy, workshop. About 650 of the instruments survive, according to the Smithsonian Institution.

Hrycyk said investigators were trying to notify the music community about the stolen cello to make it "a hot potato" for the thief.

"This has a very high cultural significance, a high historical significance," he said. "So we're hoping that some point the thief is going to realize that this is not going to be something that is easy to get rid of."

The Philharmonic Association set up a hot line for tips about the theft and said the instrument may be returned without penalty to the downtown Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.

Increased abuse of narcotic lollipops reported; ease of use, good taste, worry law enforcement

Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. ---- A narcotic painkiller that looks like a lollipop ---- designed to speed relief to cancer patients ---- is starting to show up in illegal sales with the nickname "perc-a-pop." The drug's ease of use and sweet taste have law enforcement officials worried about the potential for abuse.

Actiq, a berry-flavored lozenge on a stick, contains the synthetic opioid fentanyl.

"We're starting to see it emerge as a drug that is, as we call it, 'diverted,' which is a legally prescribed drug being used illegally," said Kevin Harley, spokesman for state Attorney General Jerry Pappert. "It's a drug that is easily administered or taken by somebody who might be afraid to either take a pill, snort or inject a needle in their arm."

The attractive taste -- described by the manufacturer as a "mild berry flavor" -- makes abuse more likely, he added. Harley said each Actiq lozenge retails for $9.10. The street value of a perc-a-pop is $20.

"We started seeing them in Philly, and that's where we understand the nickname came from," he said.

Manufactured by Cephalon Inc., Actiq's active ingredient is absorbed by rubbing the lozenge against the inside of the cheek.

It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration to combat "breakthrough pain," flare-ups suffered by cancer patients who are already taking narcotics in more conventional liquid or pill form to cope with chronic pain.

"Like any opioid, there is a potential for misuse," said company spokeswoman Stacey Backhardt. She said the company believes, however, "there has not been a substantial diversion of this product in the state or elsewhere."

Fentanyl was first introduced as an intravenous anesthetic called Sublimaze in the 1960s. Besides being taken orally, it is also dispensed as a transdermal patch under the trade name Duragesic.

Hospitals in the lower 48 states reported 576 incidents of non-medical use of fentanyl products in 2000; the number rose to 1,506 by 2002, said Leah R. Young, spokeswoman for the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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