Mad Antiquary’s Thefts.

Inangahua Times, 5 May 1934, Page 4

Mad Antiquary’s Thefts.

Rare bronses have disappeared from several museums in England, and it ia believed that the thefts are the work of a mad collector of antiques. His method shows all the cunning of the mentally deranged. First of all, he photographs a rare bronze. Then he has a substitute made ao true to detail that even an expert, at first sight, would not suspact the " fake ” Then, with the substitute bronze bidden beneath his coat, the thief enters the museum, waits for a favourable opportunity, opens the showcase, and quickly exchanges the replica for the genuine bronze. Some thefts have been undiscovered for weeks. By this time detection ia almost impossible. The Devises Museum was one of those recently robbed in this way. An attempt was abo made to rob the Winchester City Museum. The thief was disturbed. He left behind him a reproduction of a rare bronze on top of the showcase in which the real one reposed.

As the stolen articles are all of world-wide repute, it is impossible to sell them. But somewhere the mad collector sits, rubbing his hands, ftazing rapturously at the rarities he ha stolen, and planning further additions 8