Sometime between the evening of the 19th of June into morning of the 20th, during the annual Iford Manor Estate’s Jazz Festival, unknown suspects broke into the property and stole four bronze statues, including the estate’s prized She-Wolf with Romulus and Remus statue.
According to the Wiltshire Police, the investigation has progressed significantly, leading to the arrest of two men in connection with the incident. A vehicle with a police marker was stopped by Avon and Somerset officers in the Bristol area on Thursday evening (26/06) and the occupants – a 31-year-old and a 39-year-old – were arrested. The police report that the duo live outside of Wiltshire and have been released under conditional bail not to enter the county.
Detective Inspector Penny Andrews said: “We are continuing to appeal for anyone knows anything about the stolen items or who saw anything suspicious leading up to the incident to come forward with information. No matter how insignificant you may think the information may be, it could be vital to assist our ongoing investigation.”
The stolen items include:
- Large She-Wolf with Romulus and Remus, including the bronze base
- Pair of symmetrical fawns, copies of the Villa Dei Papyri fawns
- Bust of Antinous
Andrews thanked police colleagues working in Avon and Somerset for their assistance in apprehending the suspects. She urged the public, antique dealers and auction houses to continue to look out for the items.
To report any information, the public can contact 101 quoting reference 54250075348, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
