The valuable collection of five string instruments was stolen from a car in Melbourne’s inner east in October.

A number of antique string instruments collectively worth $166,000 which were stolen from a parked car in Melbourne’s inner east on October 10 remain missing. The theft took place between the hours of 2am and 10am, when an unidentified individual smashed the window of the white Ford Falcon in a Kew car park to steal three violas, a violin and a cello. The instruments had been recently restored by Master luthier John Ferwerda and were intended for the Allegri Music School and Store in Niddrie.

Among the cache of stolen instruments was a Leandro Bisiach viola from 1960 Milano, worth $90,000, a Romeo Antoniazzi Cremonese Series A Cremonese L’Anno from 1913, worth $55,000, a French Claude LeBlanc viola from France 1840, worth $12,500, aFrancois Breton violin from France Morecourt 1820, worth $6,000 and a Charles Resuche viola from Paris 1896, worth $2,800.

Police are yet to identify the offender, but have publicly appealed for witnesses to step forward. Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.

Earlier this year a Trombone that was stolen from the Sydney Opera House after a New Year’s Eve gala concert was anonymously returned to its rightful owner after three months. The happy conclusion to the theft was partly the result of a massive online campaign by police to locate the instrument.