[MSN] Swoop on stately home burglary suspects

[Museum Security Network Mailinglist]

Swoop on stately home burglary suspects

Police investigating a wave of burglaries at stately homes have arrested 14 people in raids across the South of England.

The early morning arrests in Oxfordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire were part of an operation aimed at cracking an organised crime network believed to be responsible for £30m worth of crime over two years.

Police believe burglaries at Ramsbury Manor in Wiltshire in February, Woolley Park House in Berkshire in April last year and Stanton Harcourt Manor in Oxfordshire in November last year were all commited by the gang.

Officers from Thames Valley Police, West Mercia Constabulary, Warwickshire Police, Wiltshire Police and Gloucestershire Police took part in today's swoops.

Assistant Chief Constable Francis Habgood, from Thames Valley Police, said: "Detectives have investigated over £30 million worth of crime over a 21-month period.
advertisement

"The five forces have recovered approximately a third of this, including around half of the antiques stolen from Ramsbury Manor."

Millions of pounds worth of antiques and fine art were stolen from the 17th century manor house belonging to the property tycoon Harry Hyams, making it one of the biggest domestic burglaries ever.

Hundreds of items including porcelain, silver, clocks, barometers, and paintings were taken from the property in Wiltshire.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/