Full Breakdown
$38,000 Violin Stolen from West Auckland Bus
8/6/2026, 8:25:57 PM
Core Event
International student Longrui Zhu, a 22-year-old violinist from China studying for a Bachelor of Music at the University of Auckland, reported that her custom-made $38,000 violin was taken from a Route 18 bus in New Lynn, West Auckland. While traveling, Zhu said a middle-aged male passenger of Maori or Pasifika descent began glaring at her, causing her to feel “unwell and unsafe.” She disembarked at the midpoint of the route on Walmer Rd, after which the man allegedly seized the instrument and left the bus at Karangahape Rd. CCTV captured the incident at about 10 a.m. on Saturday, but police have not released an image, citing privacy concerns.
Background & Context
Zhu has studied violin since age 7 and joined the Auckland University Orchestra after moving to New Zealand. The stolen instrument, described by Zhu as “akin to her own baby,” is a highly valuable, custom-made violin essential to her studies and performances.
Official Statements & Responses
Police confirmed they received a report of the theft and are reviewing the bus’s CCTV footage. They have appealed to the public for information but have not provided a suspect’s image, stating that releasing it raises privacy issues. Zhu reported contacting AT and the police immediately after realizing the violin was missing, but was told the opportunity to recover the instrument had passed. She also visited music shops, cash-converters, and community missions without success.
Verbatim Quotes
- “That guy quickly picked up my violin, and he got off the bus on Karangahape Rd.” — Longrui Zhu
What’s Next
Police continue to examine the CCTV recordings and have asked anyone with relevant information to contact them. Zhu remains hopeful that public awareness, potentially through social-media sharing of the suspect’s likeness, may lead to the violin’s recovery.
