REGION: Sympathetic man returns violin after learning it had been stolen

Poway resident purchased instrument at pawn shop

By COLLEEN MENSCHING - Staff Writer | Thursday, July 17, 2008 10:27 PM PDT ∞

A violin stolen in April was returned to its owner Wednesday after detectives tracked down the Poway man who unwittingly bought the instrument at a San Diego pawn shop.

Kai Tang of Poway said he first saw the violin on the Internet auction site eBay.com.

The Airy family, hoping to find the violin after it was stolen from Mark Airy's car in April, saw the same auction listing a week ago ---- but Tang made it to Unique Pawnbrokers before they did and paid about $400 for the instrument.

A detective working the case eventually used surveillance tape and a signature to identify Tang, who is a pastor and violinist, as the buyer.

"If one of my violins was stolen I'd be very upset, so I'm glad the violin is back with its owner," said Tang, who handed the violin over Wednesday.

Lynita Airy said she and her husband gave the violin to their son Mark when he was 13. Now 37, Mark uses it in his role as concert master for the orchestra at Lighthouse Baptist Church in Lemon Grove.

Lynita Airy said the family had been on an emotional roller coaster since the theft ---- from tracking it down to finding the violin on eBay, then finding out the instrument had been sold and that there might not be a way to know who bought it.

"When we heard it was sold, it was like everything dashed to the ground," she said.

Earlier in the week, they knew that they were looking for a 40-something, professional-looking Asian man from North County who demonstrated clear skill when he tried out the violin at the pawn shop.

Now that the violin is back with the South County family, it can resume its place as an heirloom, she said.

Mark Airy described his violin as a copy of those produced by the Amati family of Italy, whose original work is so valuable it can be seen at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

His own violin is worth between $1,500 and $2,500, but replacing it with one that sounded as good could have cost as much as $5,000, he said.

Mark Airy said he is not paid for his playing with the church orchestra and would have had a hard time justifying spending thousands on a new instrument.

The Airy family plans to meet with Tang and his family Saturday to thank him for agreeing to return the violin.

Tang and Mark's sister-in-law, also a violinist and the family member who spotted the violin on eBay, will receive rewards from the family, Lynita Airy said.

Tang said he is grateful for the family's offer to reimburse him for what he paid the pawn shop for the violin, and that he was glad he was able to help them end their search.

Contact staff writer Colleen Mensching at (760) 739-6675 or cmensching@nctimes.com.

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