Overview

• Timothy Johnson, 39, has been charged with felony robbery and misdemeanors related to the theft of a violin on a CTA Blue Line train in Chicago’s Loop.
• The stolen violin, valued at $10,000, was handmade by the victim’s older brother over two years and holds deep sentimental value.
• Police have recovered the violin’s case, but the instrument itself remains missing as the investigation continues.
• Cyrus Spurlock, a music student in his final semester at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, has offered a cash reward for the violin’s return.
• The theft highlights concerns about security on Chicago’s public transit and the impact of losing irreplaceable personal items.