Stately homes to get private police
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Your support makes all the difference.Britains stately home owners are setting up their own crime investigation agency to trace gangs of thieves who are making them live in fear, writes Ian Burrell.
The agency will cost some pounds 200,000 to establish, will have a London headquarters and will be staffed by former police and intelligence officers. It is being set up by the Council for the Prevention of Art Theft (Copat), an umbrella body representing stately home owners, loss adjustors, insurers and heritage groups.
The move follows a sharp increase in attacks on private country houses which has led to the loss of pounds 15m worth of property in five years. Less than 5 per cent of the property has been recovered. The chief culprits are believed to be up to four specialist gangs.
Lord and Lady McGowan were handcuffed and assaulted a week ago after a gang broke into their country home at Lower Froyle, Hants. The attack took place when Lady McGowan was in the kitchen and her husband was watching television. The gang stole pounds 50,000 in jewellery and cash. Similar attacks have been carried out in Kent, Buckinghamshire and Yorkshire.
Sir Thomas Ingilby, president of Copat, said: "The incident in Hampshire has put fear into a lot of people's hearts. Whoever is doing these tie- up raids has got to be caught or someone is going to be killed. Losing your jewellery is one thing, but gratuitous violence against defenceless people is a different ballgame."
Richard Mangnall, director of Tyler and Co, a loss adjusting firm specialising in fine arts and antiques losses, said he had seen an alarming rise in such incidents. "There's no doubt in my mind that there is an increase in the numbers of aggravated burglaries where the owners are physically held up. Remote houses are vulnerable. These people will normally strike when the house is occupied and the alarm is probably not switched on. I have not dealt with a single case where the alarm was on."
It is hoped the new art crime investigation agency will help fill a void caused by pressure on the police service, which has been forced to direct resources away from art and antiques theft.
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