Christie's Burglar Emptied Safe Of Over £750K In Valuables

A Glaswegian burglar, who snatched Faberge jewellery from Christie's auction house during a break-in, which saw over £750,000 worth of valuables taken has been jailed.

Jobless Richard Tobin, 45, of Kipling Estate, Lewisham received two years and four months imprisonment after pleading guilty at Southwark Crown Court to two counts of burglary.

Tobin first burgled Muzinich and Co in Hanover Street, Mayfair on Friday December 5, last year – offices on the fourth-floor of an office block.

CCTV showed a suspect entering the building at 00:44am and breaking into a number of locked desk drawers.

He left after apparently only stealing a rucksack and a pair of headphones.



Two days later on Monday December 7 at 9:00pm a man was seen on CCTV entering Christie's in King Street, Mayfair.



He left around 25 minutes later having stolen a number of high-value items from a safe.



They included a 1899 Faberge gold and guilloche enamel desk clock, a Faberge gold and silver mounted aquamarine and diamond necklace, a Faberge ring and a Mappin and Webb cutlery set, each worth £25,000.



Staff discovered the break-in when they returned to work at 8:00am the following day and police were called.



CCTV images were circulated and Tobin was quickly identified as the suspect for both burglaries.

He was arrested on Wednesday January 7 and charged the same day.

Searches of the address where he had been staying with a relative found a distinctive red coat he had been pictured wearing on the CCTV during both burglaries.


The items stolen - totalling around £760,000 - have not been recovered and efforts continue to trace them.



Investigating officer Detective Constable Jim Groves, from Westminster CID, said: "Tobin was an opportunist thief who stole a large number of valuable items which have not yet been recovered."



A Christie's spokesperson said: "Christie's would like to thank the Metropolitan Police for their effective investigation into this crime.

“It is very disappointing that the thief has chosen not to disclose the whereabouts of the stolen items, but given their unique nature, we hope that they will be identified and returned to their rightful owners."