Police Press Release
9 February 2012
 
PETWORTH HOUSE THEFT

Detectives are looking for a thief who stole two distinctive plates from the National Trust at Petworth House.
The pair of Japanese porcelain plates with similar designs were stolen on the afternoon of Thursday 9 February. They are 325mm in diameter, white with blue, orange and green decoration, and have gold edges.
Each has a distinctive floral pattern of chrysanthemums and peonies behind orange-coloured fencing in the centre. Around the rims of the plates are further floral decorations of irises, lychees and peonies.
The plates were marked by hand on the base with the numbers L-PET-C-99.1 and L-PET-C-99.2. These numbers may have been covered or scratched from the glaze.
A suspect was caught on several CCTV cameras and has been described as a thick-set white man of medium build, aged in his mid to late 50s, with receding short grey hair. He was wearing a dark casual jacket, pale shirt and dark trousers. He left the property carrying a large red plastic carrier bag which had reinforced handles.
DC Andrea Watts, from Chichester CID, is investigating the thefts. She said- "The plates are very distinctive and unusual and we are hoping that someone may recognise them from the description or the photo that has been released. "We would also like to hear from anyone who thinks they recognise the suspect who was caught on CCTV. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101, quoting crime number WC3-012999-12."

Detectives are keen to trace a man following a theft at Petworth House.
This man was seen behaving suspiciously at Petworth House, a National Trust property, on the afternoon of Wednesday 1 August. He was observed trying several locked doors before leaving the premises. He was seen on a number of CCTV cameras and police are releasing an image of him from one of the cameras, hoping that someone will recognise him.
He is described as white, in his fifties, of medium height and heavy build, with short grey hair. He was wearing a beige t-shirt with dark trousers and shoes.
Detective Constable Andrea Watts said: "We believe this may be the same man we want to interview about the theft of two valuable plates from Petworth House."
The pair of Japanese porcelain plates with similar designs were stolen on the afternoon of Thursday 9 February. They are 325mm in diameter, white with blue, orange and green decoration, and have gold edges. Each has a distinctive floral pattern of chrysanthemums and peonies behind orange-coloured fencing in the centre. Around the rims of the plates are further floral decorations of irises, lychees and peonies. The plates were marked by hand on the base with the numbers L/PET/C/99.1 and L/PET/C/99.2. These numbers may have been covered or scratched from the glaze.
If you recognise this man or have knowledge of where these plates may be please contact police on 101 quoting serial 1375 of 1 August.
You can also call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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