1. ENGLISH 4
LISTENING
TIME
STOLEN HEIRLOOMS
FROM : CRIMEWATCH DAILY, BBC1, FRIDAY 30 NOV 2000.
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Narrator : If you’ve inherited something, maybe from your parents or your grandparents you often feel that
it’s not really yours, it’s like you’re just looking after it as though you’ve been allowed to keep it safe for
future generations. If those things get stolen they can’t be replaced. We went to Gloucestershire to visit a
couple whose family heirlooms were targeted by specialist criminals on the lookout for antiques.
Wife : I 1 (only be) ………………………… out of the house for just over an hour to do a little shopping
when I 2 returned and 3 (go) ………………………… straight to the dining room to put the fruit into this
lovely silver basket which 4 was one of my husband’s heirlooms and then I 5 (turn) …………………………
to the sideboard to see if I 6 had put it there by mistake and to my horror all the silver 7 (go)
…………………………and I 8 turned and the clock 9 (go) ………………………… and the clocks are
important to my husband so I 10 went into the drawing room, then into the study where again his clock 11
(go) ………………………… and then I 12 ran into the hall and my family clock
13 (go)
………………………….
Narrator : When the police 14 arrived they quickly 15 (establish) ………………………… that the burglars
16 seemed to know what they 17 (want) …………………………. They only 18 searched rooms on the
ground floor and 19 (take) ………………………… items small enough to carry through the window.
Wife : I 20 was really shocked, I 21 (tremble) …………………………all over and yet it 22 wasn’t the loss
of the things , it 23 (be) ………………………… that they 24 were so precious to my husband, they 25 (be)
………………………… all his family things and I 26 had to tell him and I just 27 (feel)
………………………… for him with all my heart and soul. It 28 was horrid.
Husband : Clocks have always been very interesting to me and they had been in my family for as long as I
can remember and probably for a generation or more before that. I had eight clocks, which I wound every
Sunday morning and these were very special.
Narrator : Police hope the stolen items will be found because they are so rare and identifiable. However,
because their usual searches revealed little an antiques officer with special knowledge of the trade was brought
in.
Antiques officer : The reason why I was called to this particular case was because of the uniqueness of the
items that were stolen and it’s very very difficult to identify property. Many people can’t describe items of
property that they’ve had in their family and in their homes for many years. So, it was a great relief that they
had these photographs that I was able to make use of. This is actually a photograph of a clock that is similar to
the one that was stolen from your home.
Wife : Yes. The clock was very precious to me because my father got it on his retirement after the war and it
was such a happy occasion.
Husband : Obviously, one feels the loss of these items very much and also very distressed and resentful that
people should have been into one’s house to raid it.
Wife : I don’t really feel angry. I have a tremendous sense of loss especially for my husband because they
were items he’d had all his life. They all had memories for him and I think he also feels that he was looking
after these things and that these things will go on to the next generations following us. That is where the
sadness and the very deep sadness comes in.
Narrator : So, if you have seen that couple’s family heirlooms please call us. Amongst the things stolen were
various pieces of silverware, an 19th century jardinière and cutlery with the family crest on. There’s also a
selection of antique clocks. So, if you’ve spotted any of these items please call us on the usual number 0800
011 011 and later in the programme we’ll tell you how to avoid unwittingly buying stolen antiques.
FOR MORE INFORMATION : http://www.bbc.co.uk/crime/prevention