In both cases the thieves were thought to have targeted specific items and were in and out of the property in a matter of minutes.
Late on Tuesday June 15, or in the early hours of Wednesday June 16, a cache of antiques valued at in excess of £1m were stolen from a private residence in Wiltshire. Probably carried away in two pairs of Georgian brass-bound peat buckets, silver by Paul Storr, Vincennes porcelain and ormolu by Matthew Boulton were among the items stolen by a gang or three or four men.
Subject to the usual conditions, a "very substantial reward" is being offered for information leading to a recovery.
On the evening of Wednesday, June 23 thieves stole Continental porcelain and other antiques from a home in Andover, Hertfordshire. In addition to pieces of Sèvres, around 30 pieces of 18th century Meissen were taken - many of them from an ornithological dinner service - plus a pair of 2ft (61cm) high schneeballen vases, one with a broken wing tip pictured right.
Information on the Wiltshire theft should be directed to DC Taylor of Swindon Police Station on 01793 507912 quoting crime reference number DH/567/04.
Information on the Andover theft should be directed to DS Darren Rawlings of Andover CID on 01256 405140 quoting crime reference number 44-WS-06059-04.
Trade alert for double country house theft
CONTINUING the recent spate of sophisticated country house thefts, valuable antiques were stolen from two homes in the south east of England in the space of a week last month.