SENSATIONAL ROBBERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18388, 2 May 1923, Page 9

SENSATIONAL ROBBERY.

ANTIQUES WORTH £50,000.

LONDON SHOP RANSACKED. WORK OF EXPERT GANG. By Telegraph— Association— .'..:■ (Received 5.30 p.m.) A. and N.Z. ; LONDON, April 30. The most sensational robbery in •. the West End of London for some years was discovered in the shop of Harris, Blairman and Sons, Regent Street, which was ransacked during the week-end. Miniatures and objects of art valued at not less than £50,000 were stolen. It is believed that the'theft was the work of a gang of international thieves, who have lately looted , paintings and antiques from several country mansions. Entering: the premises, which were without a caretaker, through a skylight, the' thieves made a leisurely selection, showing the skill, of connoisseurs in. their choice and skill of cracksmen in covering up their tracks. *>,_'_ The articles stolen include 28 miniatures of great rarity in richly-chased and embossed mountings from world-known private collections. They are nearly all of royal personages and members of the nobility, including Henry H1.,; Catherine I. and the Duchess of Orleans. The thieves also secured 20 snuff bo*es, mostly gold and silver gilt, statuettes, and 100 articles of silver tableware, marked F.R. and surmounted with a coronet. .Mr. Blairman. states, that /the .value ; of, the i stolen ..articles scarcely;i can be approximately estimated. Antique dealers in England and on the v Continent have been warned as to the nature of the goods. The thieves took everything of value in the shop window and showcases. It is evident that they had studied the movements of the staff and police. •