PREVIEW

Cambridgeshire Police are hunting for two thieves who broke into Ely Museum and stole two unique items of gold Bronze Age jewellery in the early hours of Tuesday (7May2024) morning.
The East Cambridgeshire gold torc and a gold bracelet, both dating from the Bronze Age, were taken.
Explaining their importance, Elie Hughes, curator at Ely Museum, said: “We are devastated by the loss to the museum and to the local heritage of the region. It is a huge blow after the incredible support from the community in acquiring the torc in 2017. As a culturally significant object, it cannot be replaced. Our priority now is working with the police to locate the stolen objects.”
Found in East Cambridgeshire by a metal detectorist, the torc is regarded as the best to be found in England in more than a century. It is much larger than usual examples and is made of 730g of almost pure gold. The find was made in a ploughed field in East Cambridgeshire and was reported to the local Finds Liaison Officer.
Like the torc, the gold bracelet is also in pristine condition despite being about 3000 years old. It was found in 2011 in East Cambridgeshire by a metal detectorist.
Police have released security footage of the theft in the hope the perpetrators can be caught.
DI Kiri Mazur said: “We have released this CCTV, not in the hope someone will recognise the figures, but to try to jog memories and encourage anyone with information to come forward.
“We are focused on identifying the offenders, tracing the items, and returning them to their rightful place and are working closely with staff at Ely Museum to follow all lines of inquiry.
“I am very keen to hear from anyone who may be able to provide information or saw two people on e-scooters in the vicinity of the museum, car park and pedestrian walkways at the back of the museum, the council offices and the Grange Car Park, between 12am and 2am on Tuesday.”
Anyone who has any information is urged to contact police via 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.