Rothschild gold theft

From the Telegraph:

Antique gold boxes worth millions of pounds have been stolen from the Rothschild Collection by a masked gang that smashed its way into one of Britain's finest stately homes early yesterday.

More than 100 boxes were taken from Waddesdon Manor, the French-style chateau built by the European banking dynasty near Aylesbury, Bucks, in a meticulously planned night raid that lasted less than two minutes.

The thieves' haul is part of the world's greatest collection of gold boxes, formed over more than a century by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild, his sister Alice and the present Lord Rothschild. . .

The raid by five men wearing balaclavas and blue boiler suits took place at 2am yesterday. They smashed their way in through a window setting off alarms and headed straight for the gold boxes. By the time security staff arrived the gang was leaving with more than 100 boxes, mainly 18th century French works of art but including some examples of English craftsmanship. . .

It is the second time that gold boxes from Waddesdon have been stolen. In 1983 thieves took a number of pieces which, with one exception, were recovered 18 months later.

Although the men who carried out yesterday's raid knew exactly what they were looking for, it is unlikely that they were stealing to order for a collector. Art theft experts say that such people do not exist.

They may hope to sell them, or they may be planning to demand a ransom. The greatest fear is that they might decide to melt them down.

It is refreshing to see an open dismissal of the myth of diabolical collector-criminals who have treasures stolen to order.

Posted by David on June 11, 2003 3:42 PM