Nicholas Orbovich told the Gary (Ind.) Post-Tribune that he left the car for about 5 minutes. He didn't bother to lock it.

Police in Michigan City, Ind., said they have been checking local pawn shops. Workers at one pawn shop said they turned away a woman who took in a violin soon after the theft because they thought it was stolen.

Orbovich told the newspaper that the violin was made by Jerome Squier of Boston in 1892 and is worth about $100,000. He said he bought it when he was a music student in Pittsburgh, getting a break from a dealer.

Orbovich plays with the South Bend (Ind.) Symphony and gives private lessons.