A daring burglary unfolded at the Royal Lancers & Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Museum, where thieves made off with a trove of "priceless" silver military antiques. The audacious heist involved
cutting through the museum's floor.
Upon arriving at work on Sunday, museum staff discovered that several valuable items had vanished. A subsequent search revealed that the burglars had drilled a hole up through an archway to gain access to a display cabinet.
Described as a well-organized and audacious operation by detectives, the stolen artifacts included a distinct parcel and gilt rosewater dish, believed to be the sister piece to the Wimbledon women's singles trophy. The Hurlingham Grand Military Polo trophy, statuettes of mounted soldiers, and a cavalry trumpet were also among the stolen items.
The incident took place in Thoresby Park, near Ollerton, and Nottinghamshire Police suspect it occurred between 02:40 and 03:30 GMT on Sunday. According to officers, the burglars initially drilled a small hole to surveil the display, then proceeded to cut a more substantial 25cm by 30cm hole through the wooden floor and cabinet.
Museum curator Steve Cox expressed his dismay at the theft, emphasizing the historical significance of the stolen items and their immeasurable value to the museum. He questioned how one could place a price on history while affirming their determination to recover from this loss.
Detective Inspector Luke Todd of Nottinghamshire Police characterized the incident as a meticulously planned and targeted attack on a historic building. He highlighted the sentimental value of the stolen items, not only to the military but also to the local community. Todd stressed that the items were worth far more to the museum than their melt-down value in silver and appealed to the public for any information or sightings of the stolen antiques.
The Royal Lancers & Nottinghamshire Yeomanry Museum has since conducted an inventory check and accounted for all other items in its collection. Photo by Lancer2011, Wikimedia commons.