They hope the events will help trace the rightful owners of hundreds of valuables stolen in a spate of night-time burglaries from country houses, galleries and private collections across the country, with the Home Counties worst hit.
A two-year investigation into the burglaries by Scotland Yard’s specialist art and antiques unit culminated in a series of police raids that recovered £500,000 worth of stolen goods. Of this more than 1000 items, worth several hundred thousand pounds, have not yet been identified.
The stolen artefacts will be on view at police stations in Suffolk and Wiltshire this month, with more dates planned for Avon and Somerset, Thames Valley, Surrey and Sussex.
It starts at Suffolk Police Headquarters at Martlesham Heath in Ipswich on April 14 from 2pm to 9pm, April 15 from 10am to 5pm and April 16 from 10am to 2pm. The property will then be taken to Westlea Police Station in Swindon and on view on April 28 from 2pm to 9pm, April 29 from 10am to 5pm and April 30 from 10am to 2pm.
Claimants are asked to bring a crime reference number and any photographs, lists, insurance documents or other details to help identify their missing valuables.
Three people were charged in connection with the burglaries. Anthony Green, 46, owner of Flog It auction house in Catford, his employee Gillian King, 50, and antique dealer Cyril Charles, 78, were arrested in March and charged with conspiracy to handle stolen goods and money laundering. They will appear at a preliminary hearing at London Crown Court on April 13.
As part of a police attempt to prevent future losses, a series of seminar days for owners and collectors will be held at New Scotland Yard. The first of these takes place on April 10 and costs £149. Anyone interested in attending should call Carola Magill on 0207 230 2150.
£500,000 Aladdin’s Cave on show
Police have announced two dates for a roadshow of objects recovered from what is thought to be a £30m art theft spree.
