Police say the flutist, 28-year-old Alexandra Sopp, was at a bar on Amsterdam Avenue on the West Side at about 3 a.m. when her bag containing the flute and piccolo were swiped from her.
Police say a witness saw the theft and helped officers track down the suspect with the aide of video surveillance.
Police say the suspect, 48-year-old Gary Richards, was arrested on charges of grand larceny and criminal possession of stolen property. It wasn't clear if he had a lawyer.
The flute and the piccolo were recovered and returned to Sopp.
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