Police seek owner

Press, 17 February 1978, Page 4

Police seek owner

The Christchurch police are looking tor the owner of some $3OOO worth of antiques, believed to be family heirlooms, which remain unclaimed almost six weeks after they were recovered. A number of stolen valuable antiques were recovered six weeks ago from the roof of a house in central Christchurch. Among them were a fob watch and sovereign holder, both made of silver; a set of engraved cuff links; and a sealing-wax stamp attached to a gold chain. As a result of the find, a person was arrested for receiving stolen property, and some of the antiques were traced bad to their owners. But about $3OOO worth of the articles have remained under lock and key in a police safe, waiting for someone to claim them. Detective Constable W. Schwass, of the Christchurch police fraud squad,

is shown above with several of the items.

The original haul was valued about $5OOO. The police believe the remaining items might be family heirlooms stolen from a house or safe over the last six months. What has puzzled the police particularly is the fact that some of the antiques are identifiable with inscriptions. The fob watch is engraved “E. H. Robertson, 1906,” the sovereign holder commemorated the “O.Y. and M.B.C. motorboat race Tangaroa, 1912.” A gold watch was “Presented to Private Edwin H. Robertson by his friends of the Rakaia Gorge,” and the same Mr Robertson seems to have been the recipient of a pair of cuff links engraved “E.H.R.” There are also a number of English pound notes, and Australian $l, $2, and $5 notes; various coins; and a Hudson Bay Comp a n y commemorative medal.

Of more sentimental value Is a brooch with a small amount of plaited hair in the middle, and bearing the inscription, “E. Batchelor, 1823” on the back. There are also several gold chains and brooches, including a diamond-en-crusted tie pin, a threestone diamond ring, and a cameo brooch with a gold chain attached. The police will hand over these, and several more items, to their proper owners on presentation of identification or proof of ownership. If they are not claimed within a reasonable period they will be treated as unclaimed property and sold or auctioned, the proceeds going to the Public Account.

If persons wish to claim the articles, or want information which may help trace the owners, they should get in touch with Detective Constable Schwass of the fraud squad at the Central Police station.