Blenheim gang ‘hit another stately home’
Gold loo was swiped from palace THE gang who stole a golden toilet worth almost £5million from Blenheim Palace could have been behind a raid on another stately home.
Crooks took the 18-carat fully functional artwork – entitled America – from the Oxfordshire palace on Saturday.
And yesterday it emerged that days earlier priceless heirlooms were stolen from Sudeley Castle, in Gloucestershire, just over 30 miles away.
Burglars shattered a display case and took jewellery and artefacts before making off in a 4x4.
A gold and enamel box with the Prince of Wales feathers set in diamonds and a gold Faberge cigarette case were among the items stolen on September 8.
Gloucestershire Police, who have footage of suspects carrying a sledgehammer, said they were “open minded” about links to other “high-value” raids.
And Christopher Moses from private security firm Blackstone Consultancy said the two crimes may have been executed by the same crooks, despite the targets being “quite different.”
He said: “A gold toilet is very specific and I’d expect has already been melted down or was stolen to order.
“Sudeley is not as well known as Blenheim and more of a smash and grab raid.
“But there are only a few gangs who do this kind of thing. It takes planning and experience – they will have a network set up.”
Castle owner Lady Elizabeth Ashcombe is offering a £10,000 reward for the return of her property.
She said: “There were beautiful artefacts on display for everyone and very precious to me.”
The toilet theft was like a “heist movie”, Blenheim boss Dominic Hare said. It happened two days after the £4.8million creation by Italian Maurizio Cattelan went on display.
A 66-year-old man arrested on Saturday and a 36-year-old arrested on Tuesday have been bailed. SECURITY EXPERT ON THE CHANCES OF A LINK Blenheim Palace
There are only a few gangs who do this kind of job