£200,000 antiques haul for home raiders (From Andover Advertiser)

£200,000 antiques haul for home raiders

11:10am Tuesday 7th July 2009

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DISTRESSED residents are reeling after burglars escaped with a £200,000 haul of antiques in a raid on a north Hampshire home.

An inscribed complete works of Shakespeare, an Indian silver box bearing the inscription “Una Beatrice Read Abbott” and a tooled leather and china inlay medallion cover were grabbed by the thieves who targeted the address in Thackhams Lane.

The burglars struck between 11pm on Saturday, June 27 and 6am on Sunday, June 28 – just days after raiders had targeted another home in the same road.

In the first break-in, burglars also got away with various antiques, including a clock, candlesticks and a silver-plated ornamental stag. The raid took place between 6pm on June 19 and 9am on June 20.

Acting Det Sgt Dawn White, from the Priority Crime Unit, said: “Both of these burglaries happened overnight and involved a substantial amount of antiques being stolen.

“Thackhams Lane is just off the main A30 and it is possible people may have seen a vehicle or people acting suspiciously in the area during these two evenings.

“If you have any information which may help this investigation, please get in touch. It is possible that some of these antiques are offered for sale at car boot sales, antique fairs and auctions, so please be vigilant and contact the police if you notice anything suspicious.

“I would also like to remind residents to keep their properties secure, particularly if you have a large amount of valuables or antiques in your home.”

Anyone with any information should contact Acting Det Sgt White, at Aldershot police station, on 0845 045 45 45 or the Crimestoppers hotline on 0800 555 111.

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