Shocking footage reveals how gang of audacious thieves cut hole in museum floor to steal ‘priceless’ silver military antiques
- Royal Lancers & Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Museum was robbed on October 29
- Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 101 quoting incident 273
Shocking footage has revealed how a gang of audacious thieves cut a hole in the floor of a military museum to steal ‘priceless’ historical silver antiques.
The daring heist took place at the Royal Lancers & Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Museum at Thoresby Park in Newark in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Among the treasures stolen was a distinctive parcel and gilt rosewater dish – said to be the sister piece to the famous Wimbledon women’s singles trophy.
Steve Cox, curator for the Royal Lancers & Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Museum, said: ‘It’s disgusting that they’ve taken history from the people who have served and fought for this country.
‘The items they have taken are priceless to the museum. How do you put a value on history?’
Pictured: A silver piece that was part of the large haul of antique silver stolen from a display case at the Royal Lancers & Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Museum at Thoresby Park
Pictured: Stolen silver trophy. Detectives believe the theft occurred between 2.40am and 3.30am
Pictured: The hole sawed by a gang of thieves to steal ‘priceless’ silver historic antiques at military museum
Detectives believe the theft occurred between 2.40am and 3.30am and released footage that showed how the gang had made their way into the museum by sawing a hole through the floor.
The hole was only discovered after the case containing the treasures was moved, revealing how the robbers drilled up through an archway in the building and burrowed through several layers of wood to gain access to the silver cabinet.
Other items pinched from the museum include the Hurlingham Grand Military Polo trophy, statuettes of mounted soldiers and a cavalry trumpet.
Mr Cox continued: ‘We’re upset about it, but we’re fighting back and we’re going to rebuild from what’s gone.’
Detective Inspector Luke Todd, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: ‘In the early hours of Sunday October 29 a burglary occurred at the location where somebody has cut a hole in the archway and stolen some of the silver items from the museum that were in a cabinet under the archway.
Pictured: Stolen statue. The police said: ”The items stolen are very distinctive and are going to be very difficult to sell on’
Pictured: Stolen silver trophy. Police have appealed for anyone with information to reach out
‘This was an audacious, planned, and targeted attack on what is a wonderful historic building and was clearly very well organised.
‘The items that were stolen are not only high in monetary value but also high in sentimental value not only to the military, but also to the wider community in the area.
‘The items stolen are very distinctive and are going to be very difficult to sell on.
‘These items are worth so much more to the museum than they are melted down in their silver form.
‘So, I really want to ask anyone who may have any information, may have seen anything suspicious or has heard about someone trying to sell items like this to get in touch with us.
‘You may think the information you have is irrelevant but [it] could be exactly what we need to find those responsible.
‘These criminals may think they’ve got away with a lot of silver at this moment in time, but they definitely haven’t got away with the crime.’
The museum also contains a range of firearms and other weapons which have all been accounted for.
Anyone with information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 273 of Sunday 29 October 2023. Crimestoppers can also be contacted on 0800 555 111.
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