MEGAN BASHAM, HOST: An employee at a pawn shop in Massachusetts scored quite a bargain when he purchased an old violin last month from a customer.

The LBC Boutique and Loan in Somerville, Massachusetts paid just $50 for it.

Turned out that violin was a Ferdinando Gagliano, handcrafted in 1759, valued at $250,000!

The bows alone are worth at least $16,000.

Unfortunately for the pawn shop, the purchase was quite literally a steal.

Police say the violin was stolen during a house break-in. It’s since been returned to its rightful owner.

Store manager Dylan McDermitt says store policy has changed. From now on, shop employees will ask people who bring in violins to play them so they know the instruments really belong to them.

It’s The World and Everything in It.