Greedy Museum Thief Locked-Up

A heartless thief who targeted two of London's best loved museums – greedily planning to sell treasured artefacts to antique dealers – has been caged for fifteen months.

Gary Doyle, 54, of Lascotts Road, Whetstone, North London was caught by the Metropolitan Police’s Art and Antiques Unit and arrested with assistance by an Art Beat Special Sergeant.

Detectives were investigating the theft of a replica Tudor helmet from the National Army Museum’s (pic.top) ‘Making of Britain’ gallery on October 5, last year when they learned of a similar crime two days later at the Forty Hall Museum, Enfield, North London (pic.bottom).

Six maps of Middlesex had been snatched in a well-planned theft and Doyle immediately travelled to Central London where he unsuccessfully tried to sell them to suspicious antique dealers.

The defendant failed to convince experts the maps belonged to a relative and using CCTV images at the gallery police linked Doyle to the two thefts.

He was arrested on November 25 in Palmers Green, North London.

Detective Constable Michelle Roycroft from the Art and Antiques Unit said: “Doyle's arrest and subsequent charge demonstrates how by working closely with our partners in the museums and trade organisations we will combat thieves and thwart their attempts to profit from robbing Britain's heritage.”