[MSN] Stolen artworks may end up in scrap yard

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Stolen artworks may end up in scrap yard 

01/06/2006 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----
 
By Chris Wood 
  
The art world has suffered thefts of two more prominent works, with it
feared they could be melted down and sold for scrap metal. 

The Armstrong Memorial, a tribute to Boer War hero Lieutenant George
Armstrong, said to be of International importance and worth £30,000 was
taken from outside a country church in Wiltshire. 

This follows the removal of a five foot bronze statue of First World War
veteran Sydney Mason Collins. The piece, said to be worth £15,000 was taken
from St Mary’s church in Chedzoy, Somerset. 

Worryingly, police believe the incidents could be linked and the gang who
made off with the memorials could have been behind the theft of a £3 million
Henry Moore sculpture from Hertfordshire last December. 

A Wiltshire Police spokesman said: “We are looking into options as to why
this statue [the Armstrong Memorial] has been taken. We are investigating
the possibility that the two thefts are linked and that other churches may
be targeted. 

“We are liaising with Avon and Somerset Police to find both statues. It is
likely that we will also be talking to other forces where bronze statues
have been taken.” 

The Henry Moore piece, although worth millions, would fetch around £5,000 if
melted down and sold for scrap. But despite an intensive police
investigation that has included examining several scrap metal yards, it has
yet to be recovered. 

In another case, an extremely rare work by British artist Lynn Chadwick, The
Watchers, was taken from Roehampton University in south west London. 

Police believe the operation, which took place in January, would have
involved carving the piece free and employed at least eight people to carry
it. 

With bronze and other types of ferrous and non-ferrous metals bringing good
prices from scrap dealers, links between the spate of thefts are being
investigated. 

It is thought the pieces may have been taken abroad or are being kept hidden
until the investigation has quietened down. 

 
http://www.mrw.co.uk/