Pickaxe raid nets £20,000 worth of antiques
http://www.thisissurreytoday.co.uk/news/Pickaxe-raid-nets-163-20-000-worth-antiques/article-2338751-detail/article.html
RAIDERS drove off with £20,000 worth of stolen items in the fourth major theft in Dorking's antiques hub this year.
Six prized paintings and a Georgian desk were taken from Antique Elegance in West Street at 7.45pm on June 13.
Burglars used a pickaxe to smash their way through the shop window after blocking the premises from view with a white van.
Owners Roger and Jenny Butcher said the thieves had tried to smash their way through the shop ceiling from an upstairs flat being renovated.
Roger Butcher of Antique Elegance said: "It was quite an audacious raid because they pulled up in a van and blocked the whole window out. They went in upstairs first of all to try and come through the ceiling.
"We got mobile phone pictures of them. They looked like two old lags in their 50s. They broke in upstairs and tried to pull the floorboards up and come through.
"They were spotted on the roof by neighbours.
"They did not want to jemmy the door because it is alarmed, so they smashed the window instead with a pickaxe."
He added: "It makes me sick. They have taken stuff that is mine, no one else's."
Jenny Butcher said: "Luckily, a neighbour disturbed them and took photos of them and they skedaddled. I think they were there to take the whole lot.
"All these paintings are known artists and some of them were exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1848."
One witness, who did not wish to be named, said: "I heard a lot of glass being smashed and I looked out the window and saw someone taking property out of the shop."
The witness added: "Everybody puts the police down at the moment but they literally took two minutes to arrive on the scene."
The raid was the fourth major burglary at an antique store in Dorking this year. Silverware and several thousand pounds' worth of antiques were stolen in January and March from Talbot House Antique Centre. Earlier this month, £15,000 worth of jewellery was taken from Surrey Hills Antique Centre.
Detectives are seeking further photographic evidence that could lead them to the culprits of the most recent raid. A police spokeswoman said: "A white van, which was using false plates, was caught on CCTV in the area at the time of the offence and inquiries are on-going to establish where the vehicle went when it left the scene."
Art Hostage Comments:Dick Ellis has named Michael Hurley as the chief suspect in this recent raid and members of his gang for previous raids, including some of the Stately home raids over the last two years, Firle Place, and Glynde Place being the two most high profile raids.
Mark Dalrymple went further, Michael Hurley is the main focus of attention and efforts have been made for Police to put Michael Hurley and his associates under 24/7 surveillance.
Dick Ellis and Mark Dalrymple have even tried to use Tim Corfield the Art dealer to infiltrate the Michael Hurley syndicate with no luck. Seems Nice but Dim Tim Corfield failed and was exposed straight away.
However Police are said to be confident they will make a breakthrough soon according to Dick Ellis and Mark Dalrymple.
Plans to slip an undercover Police officer from S.O.C.A. into the Michael Hurley Gang, as a buyer of stolen art and antiques, have so far failed to bear fruit, but efforts continue.Dick Ellis and Mark Dalrymple revealed today.
However, as usual Police are reluctant to put the Michael Hurley Gang under 24/7 surveillance, although pressure is coming from Political circles as well as the Historic Houses Association and Belted Earls.
Update:
Dick Ellis has just said:
"If I had any hair, I would be pulling it out"
Mark Dalrymple followed suit:
"If I go down, I'll take everybody with me"
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