A black woman in her mid 30s, who had been incarcerated in a Gloucestershire jail, was arrested at the gate as she completed a brief sentence. CID officers in London are hoping to interview her this week about a string of incidents involving stolen antiques and stolen credit cards from shops in Kensington Church Street, the Fulham Road and Pimlico Road.
As reported in two previous issues – Antiques Trade Gazette No 1623, January 24 and Antiques Trade Gazette No 1632, March 27 – a woman wearing a fur-trimmed coat had taken in dealers on the capital’s best-known antiques thoroughfares. Operating under a number of names – in Pimlico Road she posed as singer Gloria Gaynor and the niece of music star Barry White – she sought to gain dealers’ confidence by showing great enthusiasm for high-value art and antiques and spending up to three or four hours in a shop discussing potential purchases.
Victims of the thief have been contacted in relation to the recent arrest. PC Jennifer Williams of Belgravia can be contacted about the case on 0207 321 6806.
Arrest made over London thefts
POLICE have arrested a woman wanted for questioning in connection with a series of thefts from London antiques shops earlier this year.
