[MSN] Bata family offers $25, 000 reward for safe return of royal slippers

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Bata family offers $25,000 reward for safe return of royal slippers 


ANGELA PACIENZA
Thu Jan 26, 1:12 PM ET
 


TORONTO (CP) - As police continued to chase several leads, Sonja Bata
offered $25,000 Thursday for the safe return of several artifacts, including
a pair of rare royal slippers, brazenly stolen last weekend from the Bata
Shoe Museum.

"This is one of her favourite pieces of the collection," said spokeswoman
Rosmarie Stergiou, speaking on behalf of Bata, wife of Czech-born shoe
magnate Thomas Bata and founder of the museum.

"This is something that's irreplaceable. We'll never find another pair of
shoes worn by the Nizam (Prince Nizam Sikandar Jah of Hyderabad) and for
that reason they're priceless to us."

Police said the investigation has uncovered several leads and officers
suspect "it was a planned theft and deliberate."

"We believe it's someone that knows the value of these items," said Toronto
police Det. Leslie Dunkley.

"Who would want to steal them is a question we're asking ourselves. There's
a very small market for these items."

He wouldn't discuss the museum's security or whether cameras captured the
theft, which occurred between noon and 5 p.m. last Sunday.

Police are searching for three items: jewel-encrusted slippers worn by the
Indian prince, valued at $160,000, as well as a gold anklet and toe ring,
both adorned with diamonds and rubies.

Museum officials said the items were of great historical importance,
particularly the slippers.

"They represent the maximum opulence of the Muslim court during colonial
times in India," said Emanuele Lepri, the museum's director. "It's a
completely unique piece."

This was not the first robbery at the museum. A pair of sneakers went
missing five years ago, said Stergiou. They were never recovered.

The museum, whose permanent collection includes more than 12,000 artifacts
including Queen Victoria's ballroom slippers and Terry Fox's running shoe,
remains open to visitors during the investigation.