Insurer offers reward for stolen masterpieces (From Surrey Comet)

Insurer offers reward for stolen masterpieces

3:47pm Saturday 18th August 2007

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A £15,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the return of seven irreplaceable ceramic works, stolen from the De Morgan Centre in West Hill.

Insurance company Tyler and Co, whose policy covers the works, took out an advert publicising the reward in the industry bible, Art and Antiques Trade Gazette, last Tuesday. The company has not yet received any information about the works, valued at £200,000.

“There is always a buyer for everything and there are collectors who are not strictly kosher."

Claire Longworth

Mark Dalrymple of Tyler and Co. said the reward was intended to catch the attention of dealers who might be offered the works.

He said: "We have done it because we want the pieces back. If you don't try you don't get."

But De Morgan curator Claire Longworth said it could be many years before the works were traced.

"There is always a buyer for everything and there are collectors who are not strictly kosher. We have got to sit back and wait. It can be a very long time just because thieves will keep things underground until things have cooled down," she said.

Anyone with information should call Wandsworth police on 020 8247 8748 or make an anonymous report to Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

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