On April 27, 2004, the General Kyd, a $3.5 million Stradivarius on loan to Stumpf from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, was stolen after he left it on his porch. It was discovered in a dumpster by Melanie Stevens, a thirty-year-old nurse, after a home surveillance video from across the street showed the cello being lifted by a clumsy thief on a bicycle at around 6:30 am.
On April 27, 2004, the General Kyd, a $3.5 million Stradivarius borrowed by Stumpf from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, was stolen after he left it on his porch. It was found in a dumpster by Melanie Stevens, a thirty-year-old nurse, following a home surveillance video showing the cello being lifted by an awkward thief riding a bicycle at approximately 6:30 am.