The Ely Museum's gold torc (Trustees of The British Museum)
The museum’s ‘most prized object’ is still missing after reportedly being stolen earlier this month
Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £5,000 for information on the recent theft of Bronze Age objects from Ely Museum.
The Cambridgeshire museum was the victim of the theft of items from its collection, including a gold torc – a form of neck ring – which is thought to be about 3000 years old and is the largest of its kind ever found in Europe. The museum has called the item its ‘most prized object’.
It was found in 2015 by a metal detectorist, and was valued at £220,000 in 2017. It was bought by the museum using a series of grants.
The thieves also reportedly stole a gold bracelet from the Bronze Age. Police are currently investigating the theft.
“Historic treasures are totally irreplaceable and are a crucial part of Cambridgeshire’s history. Obviously, the best outcome is for the stolen items to be returned,” said Annabelle Goodenough, South East Regional Manager at Crimestoppers.
“We urge anyone with any information about this devastating theft to speak directly to our charity or complete an online form on our website. You can contact us safe in the knowledge that Crimestoppers has always kept its promise of anonymity since we began in 1988.”
Anyone with information can contact Crimestoppers here.
