[CPProt.net] bronze statue worth £3m ($5.3m) by sculptor Henry Moore has been stolen from the grounds of Henry Moore Foundation in Perry Green

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

£3m Henry Moore sculpture stolen 
December 17, 2005

A bronze statue worth £3m ($5.3m) by sculptor Henry Moore has been stolen
from the grounds of a museum. 

Two vehicles gained access to the courtyard of the Henry Moore Foundation in
Perry Green, Much Hadham in Hertfordshire, on Thursday evening. 

Three men then loaded the huge statue of "a reclining figure" onto the back
of a Mercedes lorry using a crane. 

Officers investigating the theft believe it could have been stolen for scrap
value. 

The 1969/1970 work is more than 11ft long and weighs 2.1 tonnes. 


 We are gobsmacked, extremely upset and also disappointed that someone would
steal it 
Gareth Spence, spokesman  

One offender is described as wearing a hooded jacket and one a baseball cap.


The Mercedes is a flatbed lorry, possibly red with a crane on the back. 

A second vehicle used by the men is thought to have been an old-style Mini
Cooper, police said. 

Det Sgt Graeme Smith said: "This is a very valuable statue and we are
working closely with the Henry Moore Foundation to ensure its safe return." 

Substantial reward 

Mr Smith said officers were keeping an open mind as to the motive behind the
theft - which was captured on CCTV - but added: "We are fearful it is
possibly going to be sold for scrap, which would be a travesty." 

A substantial reward has been offered by the Foundation for information
leading to its recovery. 

Gareth Spence, from the Foundation, told BBC news that the statue was in the
farmyard area of the museum and was in the process of being moved to another
location. 

"We are gobsmacked, extremely upset and also disappointed that someone would
steal it." 

The 70-acre estate at Perry Green is home to the studios, barns and
galleries gifted to the Foundation by Henry Moore. 

The gardens house the late artist's sculptures. 

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/4537670.stm