Sunburst violin with rosined bow, lost near Ringling Museum
Description
I lost my sunburst violin yesterday around 3pm near the Ringling Museum on Bay Shore Drive in Sarasota. It's a full-size acoustic violin, spruce top and maple back with a warm sunburst finish, ebony fingerboard, and a tiny dent on the lower bout that's easy to spot if you know what to look for. The bow has a faded red wrap and there's a small rosined streak on the chin rest. This violin has huge sentimental value to me—it's a gift from my grandmother, and I really need to get it back before my gig this weekend. If you found it, please drop me a note here in the app and I'll come pick it up as soon as I can.
Approximate last-seen location
Pin shows an approximate area, not the exact spot — to protect privacy.
How to safely get your item back
A short checklist to protect you and the item during the handoff.
Verify the finder before meeting
- Ask them to describe a detail not shown in your listing, such as an engraving, scratch, or contents.
- Request a clear photo of the item from an angle you did not post.
- Do not pay any release, shipping, or storage fee.
- Do not share your full address until you have verified them.
Meet in a safe, public place
- Police stations, café entrances, transport hubs, and shop foyers all work.
- Meet during daylight hours where there is CCTV and foot traffic.
- Avoid private homes, car parks at night, or isolated locations.
Bring someone with you
- Tell a friend or family member where you are meeting and when.
- Share your live location with them during the handoff.
- For high-value items, consider contacting your local police station for advice first.
Keep communication on lostandfound.io
- Use the in-app message thread so there is a record if something goes wrong.
- Do not move to WhatsApp, SMS, or email until you have exchanged a verifying detail.
- Never share bank details, government ID numbers, or copies of your ID.