Arrest in £1m Firle Place art heist case
http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/8271847.Arrest_in___1m_Firle_Place_art_heist_case/
POLICE have made an arrest in their hunt for the burglars behind a £1m
art heist at a Sussex stately home.
Detectives are remaining tight-lipped about the new development in their
inquiry into the theft of rare 18th Century porcelain from Firle Place
in July last year.
The pieces were among 20 items stolen from the home of millionaire
landowner Viscount Gage - and last month it was claimed the gang
responsible may have carried out a string of other crimes.
The arrest took place last Thursday but police are refusing to reveal
the age of their suspect or where they found him.
A spokesman for Sussex Police said yesterday: “We can confirm a
middle-aged man was arrested by Sussex Police detectives investigating
the burglary last Thursday.
“He was interviewed and bailed without charge until September pending
further inquiries.”
The raid was featured in a recent Crimewatch appeal, in which viewers
were told the burglar had managed to break in through a first-floor
window by cutting out a small pane of glass and squeezing through the space.
Opening the window would have triggered an alarm.
The cabinets containing the items were the only spot in the building not
covered by security systems.
He then carried the porcelain back through the empty windowpane and down
a ladder before getting away.
Detective Chief Inspector Mike Ashcroft told the programme: “It was
immediately apparent this was not the work of an opportunist. This was
definitely the work of a professional burglar.”
Dick Ellis, former head of the Scotland Yard art and antiques unit, has
included the Firle Place raid in a list of major crimes he believes were
committed by a single gang.
He was reported as saying up to 36 crimes, including 21 burglaries, had
been carried out by three groups.
Art Hostage Comments:
Comments to follow............
Upon another note, news breaking about an overnight burglary in which several bronzes and trophy cups were stolen, including a Cheltenham Gold cup from the 80''s.
Now there's a surprise !!!!
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