An example of one of the snake rings stolen from Forage and Find Antiques.
In Kingston upon Thames a jewellery dealer was the victim of a theft from her market stall while a jeweller in Hampshire was attacked near his shop.
These robberies are in addition to a Camden Passage dealer who was robbed on June 17 (as reported in ATG No 2599).
Decoy robbery
At the Kingston Antiques & Vintage Street Market approximately 100 vintage and antique rings were stolen from the stand of Forage and Find Antiques on June 25.
At around 3pm a decoy technique was used while an accomplice took the case of rings. Forage and Find Antiques said: “This is devastating to a small business like mine. It has taken me years to be able to offer such a vast collection like this for sale.”
Of the rings taken, most were vintage or antique except two (snake rings) that were modern copies of an old design.
Most were 18ct starburst rings, signet rings or snake rings with a number of five stone diamond rings plus a small bird intaglio ring also taken.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “Police were called at around 3pm on Sunday, June 25, to a report of jewellery being stolen from a stall on Market Place, Kingston. Enquiries remain ongoing.”
Anyone with information should contact the police by calling 101 quoting crime reference number 0407325/23 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Earlier in June a jeweller was attacked in Aldershot, Hampshire. Hampshire Police said: “We were called at about 12pm on June 9 to a report of a robbery on Station Road in Aldershot. A 59-year-old man from Farnham was approached by two unknown males who assaulted him and took a rucksack from him.
“Enquiries are ongoing to identify these men, who left the scene in a dark coloured Audi A5.”
Anyone with information should report online via the Hampshire Police website, or call 101, quoting reference 44230228275 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A newsletter issued by SaferGems (an initiative against crime in the jewellery, antiques and fine art trades led by the British Security Industry Association and funded by TH March Insurance Brokers and the National Association of Jewellers) said the victim was a jeweller on his way to Hatton Garden and his rucksack contained gold and diamonds.
Some dealers have warned there could be organised gangs targeting the trade. For a reader’s comment on these concerns see the Letters page in ATG No 2599. For a comment from the Art Loss Register see this week’s Letters page on p47.
View more images of the missing rings from Forage and Find Antiques
