( CNN ) -- Tips led police to a Milwaukee home where they recovered a nearly 300-year-old violin worth millions that was stolen from an orchestra concertmaster , authorities said Thursday . The Stradivarius violin , known as the `` ex-Lipinski , '' was found in a suitcase in the attic of the home , police told reporters at a news conference . The violin appears to have been recovered in good condition , but officials are waiting for an expert to examine the instrument , Mark Niehaus of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra said . The violin , appraised at $ 5 million , was stolen on January 27 from Frank Almond , the orchestra 's concertmaster -- the top first violinist . Three people have been arrested in connection with the theft but have not been formally charged , authorities said . Police Chief Edward Flynn described the three as a 36-year-old man , a 41-year-man and a 32-year-old woman , all from Milwaukee . Stefan Hersh , the man who originally authenticated the instrument for the orchestra , told CNN that law enforcement contacted him to identify the violin . The orchestra offered a $ 100,000 reward for the safe return of the instrument . `` We 're confident the subjects in custody are the subjects responsible for this , '' said G.B . Jones , acting special agent in charge with the FBI in Milwaukee . 3 arrested in Stradivarius theft in Wisconsin . Almond was walking to his car after a performance when an assailant used a stun gun on him , causing him to drop the instrument . The attacker took the violin and fled to a waiting vehicle , which a second suspect was driving , police said . Stradivarius violin stolen from Milwaukee concertmaster . According to the symphony , Almond plays on a violin made by Antonio Stradivari from 1715 . Hersh has spoken to Almond since the recovery , saying the musician is understandably relieved . Almond has not yet been reunited with the instrument , according to Hersh . Stradivari was born in 1644 . He set up shop in Cremona , Italy , where he made violins , harps , guitars , violas and cellos . Before his death in 1737 , Stradivari is thought to have made more than 1,100 instruments -- of which some 650 remain today . He is the world 's most celebrated violin maker .
NEW : Tips lead authorities to the home where the violin was recovered , police said . Police : Three are in custody in connection with theft but have n't been formally charged . The violin , made by Antonio Stradivari , dates to 1715 and is worth millions . Orchestra offered a reward for safe return of the instrument .