A RARE and expensive fiddle which was stolen from a couple visiting Northern Ireland from England has been recovered and returned to them.
Police said the instrument was stolen when a motor home parked in North Street was broken into.
According to the PSNI North Belfast Facebook page, the couple had travelled to the north as "traditional musicians and had brought a rare, and very expensive five-string fiddle with them to play at some venues across the city".
The stolen fiddle was described as "irreplaceable".
The Facebook post continued: "Officers from Tennent Street were tasked to investigate and when we got in touch with a local shop which often sells goods for members of the public, we were able to ascertain that a customer had recognised a fiddle for sale in the shop as very rare and expensive, and the shop then contacted police.
"It was confirmed this was the stolen fiddle and we were able to reunite it with the owners who are delighted to have it back, and very grateful for the good samaritan in the shop who identified it.
"We don’t know who this was, but the owners want to pass on their thanks to him.
"The investigation is ongoing into this theft and handling stolen goods".
