Van Identified in Fitzwilliam Museum Theft

Detectives investigating the theft of 18 Chinese works of art from the Fitzwilliam Museum last week have identified a van believed to have been used for the burglary.

by Patrick O'Grady

This article is 13 years old

Wednesday April 25 2012, 3:57pm

Updated: 4:13pm

Cambridgeshire police have released details of the white VW Caddy van believed to have been stolen in the Tower Hamlets area of London on April 7. The van has tinted rear windows and a dent in the drivers side panel.

Cambridgeshire Police have released this image of the van believed to have been used for the burglary.

It is now thought that up to four people were involved in the theft that took place on Friday April 13, and are thought to have broken in via a back entrance. A team of 25 officers and staff are involved with what has been named 'Operation Tundra'.Detective Chief Superintendent Karen Daber, who is overseeing the investigation, stated:

"We know the van we are interested in tracing travelled down Trumpington Street, away from the Fitzwilliam Museum at about 7.40pm on Friday April 13.

"The vehicle has been seen on CCTV going past the Trumpington Street Park and Ride and heading in the direction of the M11.

"We would like to hear from anyone who thinks they may have seen the van in or around Cambridge before or after the burglary which happened at about 7.30pm.”

Among the items stolen from the museum's permanent collection were a brown jade carved elephant and a jade 16thcentury carved buffalo. A spokesperson for the museum said:

"These works are a highly important part of our collection and their loss is a great blow."

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