A Pattern to Stradivari Violin Thefts?

THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE THEFT OF THE AMES BY PHIL JOHNSON MIRROR THOSE OF THE THEFT OF THE GIBSON/HUBERMAN (NOW JOSHUA BELL'S CONCERT  INSTRUMENT) DECADES PRIOR.

Is there a pattern here of obscure, sociopathic violinists lifting conveniently vulnerable Strads (and perhaps other valuable instruments)?


The Karpilowski/Benjamin, the Lamoureux/Zimbalist, theColossus, the Davidoff/Morini, the King 
Maximilian/Unico, Le Maurien -- these include some of the best working Strads, all taken from performers or, in one case, a dealer. All are still missing. 

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AMES STRAD RECOVERED!

The Ames Strad has been recovered.  Who had it?  It's an interesting story, appropriately reported by Nina Totenberg at NPR.  She's the daughter of legendary soloist and teacher, Roman Totenberg, from whom the Ames was notoriously stolen decades ago:

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/07/arts/music/roman-totenbergs-stolen-stradivarius-is-found-after-35-years.html?_r=1

http://www.npr.org/2015/08/06/427718240/a-rarity-reclaimed-stolen-

stradivarius-recovered-after-35-years

http://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie/20158/16968/