Antiques valued at £10,000 stolen in Hove burglary

They stole 23 valuable items, including vases, statues and china.

The victim of Pembroke Crescent, Hove, has been left traumatised by the theft and now feels vulnerable, police have said.

The 54-year-old victim told The Argus: “I went into shock. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

“I thought what the hell’s going on here? Then there was this horrible realisation.”

On the discovery, he said the thieves had taken off cushion covers in which to carry away their swag, leaving the front window and display case open.

There was no trashing or ransacking. He added: “They were going specifically for the valuable stuff – everything else they left behind very gently.”

He thinks the thieves must have known what they were going for in the first place.

He said: “I did hear a scraping sound in the middle of the night but went back to sleep.

“They seemed quite professional, like they knew what they were doing.

“I would hope the items are so distinctive that someone should recognise them.”

The burglary happened in the early hours of March 28 and, after exhausting avenues of enquiry, detectives have now issued a plea for information.

Detective Constable Jane Kemp of the Brighton Priority Crime Team said: “These are very individual and distinctive items and we are sure anyone who is offered them for sale will realise this.”

DC Kemp said other enquiries centred around the Lewes and Arundel areas, where police feel some of the items may turn up.

If you have been offered any of the items, or have any other information about the burglary, email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101, quoting serial 529 of 28/3.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Sussex Police have set up Operation to combat burglaries across the county.

The antiques by number:

1) Large heavy Lalique crystal glass statue of Madonna and Child with “Lalique Crystal” silver label on front and on a heavy black glass base;

2) Large heavy Crystal Lalique “Sylvie” vase in the form of two doves with stylised asymmetric glass wings and “Lalique Crystal” silver label on front;

3) Clarice Cliff “Bizarre Ware” Stamford shaped teapot (classic 1930s Art Deco shape with curved handle and shape to one side and square shape to the other side) and very bold pink and blue splashed daisy flower decoration on body of the teapot (rare Delecia pattern and Stamford shape);

4) Clarice Cliff tall “Bizarre Ware” Bon Jour shape (again classic 1930s Art Deco curved shape) jug with posy of flowers design on the front;

5) Clarice Cliff barrel shaped “Bizarre Ware” Autumn Crocus mainly orange coloured Jam pot with lid and typical orange crocus design;

6) Identical jam pot to the above;

7) Fine quality Japanese Satsuma Ware “Moon Vase” (circular shaped like the moon, with handle incorporated into the design) with very fine Satsuma gold enamelling decoration of Japanese gardens and landscapes and with red “Imperial” impressed Japanese glazed mark on the base;

8) Tall and heavy Art Deco 1930s solid bronze dancing female figure with one foot raised in the air and on a heavy black marble plinth. Signed “Philip” and “Reveil” and impressed “Bronze Garanti Paris Deposee” foundry Mark on base;

9) Large and heavy Art Deco solid bronze bison/buffalo/wildebeest heavily/finely textured statue/figure on four legs and heavy black marble base signed “Milo” and impressed “Bronze garanti Paris Deposee” foundry Mark on base;

10) Moorcroft Vase, ovoid shape “Oberon” vase 6.5in high with cream, green and black flower tube-lined design on body. Signed “Moorcroft” on bottom;

11) Moorcroft vase, “Foxglove” design of pink flowers. 10in tall, balloon shape and signed Moorcroft on bottom;

12) Moorcroft Vase, as above (same Foxglove colour/design) but smaller 8in tall and trumpet shaped; 13) Moorcroft “Mediterranean Figs” double-handled vase signed Moorcroft on the bottom;

14) Moorcroft small squarer shaped “Colours Of Kiribati” vase with distinctive turquoise abstract pattern design;

15) Moorcroft medium sized and “balloon” or urn shaped “Cherries” vase with bold cherries design on the body and signed “Moorcroft” on the bottom;

16) Tall brass 19th-century Regency urn-shaped vase with original glass insert and double square handles on the top, with impressed swirl design on sides;

17) Pair of Royal Doulton 8in tall “Lambeth Ware” balloon shaped vases with tube-lined flower motifs in pink and blue and with Royal Doulton impressed Mark on the base;

18) A large Art Nouveau style clear glass vase with gold, red and green swirled design inlaid and stained into the top part of the glass and dripping down into the lower half;

19) Tall Art Nouveau style/shaped glass claret jug with silver plate and patterned top/lid;

20) Clarice Cliff large pink jug with flower decoration with handle and “Clarice Cliff Newport Pottery” Mark to base;

21) Clarice Cliff salt and pepper pots with blue Chi design;

22) R Lalique “coquilles” Plate circa 1924;

23) Amethyst crystal glass chalice/tazza with gilt and enamel decorated designed by the Kamenicky Senov glass school and made by Hermann Eiselt (1925).