A couple had several family heirlooms stolen from their home including silverware, clocks, and a jardiniere that had been passed down for generations. The burglars seemed to know exactly what they were looking for and only searched rooms on the ground floor, taking small items that could be carried through a window. The stolen objects were irreplaceable and held deep sentimental value as memories of the husband's family. An antiques officer was brought in to help identify the unique pieces in hopes they could be recovered, as the thieves would likely try to sell them. The couple experienced tremendous sadness and loss over the stolen heirlooms.

1. ENGLISH 4 LISTENING
TIME
STOLEN HEIRLOOMS
FROM : CRIMEWATCH DAILY, BBC1, FRIDAY 30 NOV 2000.
1 Narrator : If you’ve inherited something, maybe from your parents or your grandparents you often feel that
2 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
3 future generations. If those things get stolen they can’t be replaced. We went to Gloucestershire to visit a
4 couple whose family heirlooms were targeted by specialist criminals on the lookout for antiques.
5 Wife : I 1 had only been out of the house for just over an hour to do a little shopping when I 2 (return)
6 …………………………and 3 went straight to the dining room to put the fruit into this lovely silver basket
7 which 4 (be) ………………………… one of my husband’s heirlooms and then I 5 turned to the sideboard to
8 see if I 6 (put) ………………………… it there by mistake and to my horror all the silver 7 had gone and I 8
9 (turn) ………………………… and the clock 9 had gone and the clocks are important to my husband so I 10
10 (go) ………………………… into the drawing room, then into the study where again his clock 11 had gone
11 and then I 12 (run) ………………………… into the hall and my family clock 13 had gone.
12 Narrator : When the police 14 (arrive) ………………………… they quickly 15 established that the
13 burglars 16 (seem) ………………………… to know what they 17 wanted. They only 18 (search)
14 ………………………… rooms on the ground floor and 19 took items small enough to carry through the
15 window.
16 Wife : I 20 (be) ………………………… really shocked, I 21 was trembling all over and yet it 22 (not be)
17 ………………………… the loss of the things , it 23 was that they 24 (be) ………………………… so
18 precious to my husband, they 25 were all his family things and I 26 (must) ………………………… tell him
19 and I just 27 felt for him with all my heart and soul. It 28 (be) ………………………… horrid.
20 Husband : Clocks have always been very interesting to me and they had been in my family for as long as I
21 can remember and probably for a generation or more before that. I had eight clocks, which I wound every
22 Sunday morning and these were very special.
23 Narrator : Police hope the stolen items will be found because they are so rare and identifiable. However,
24 because their usual searches revealed little an antiques officer with special knowledge of the trade was brought
25 in.
26 Antiques officer : The reason why I was called to this particular case was because of the uniqueness of the
27 items that were stolen and it’s very very difficult to identify property. Many people can’t describe items of
28 property that they’ve had in their family and in their homes for many years. So, it was a great relief that they
29 had these photographs that I was able to make use of. This is actually a photograph of a clock that is similar to
30 the one that was stolen from your home.
31 Wife : Yes. The clock was very precious to me because my father got it on his retirement after the war and it
32 was such a happy occasion.
33 Husband : Obviously, one feels the loss of these items very much and also very distressed and resentful that
34 people should have been into one’s house to raid it.
35 Wife : I don’t really feel angry. I have a tremendous sense of loss especially for my husband because they
36 were items he’d had all his life. They all had memories for him and I think he also feels that he was looking
37 after these things and that these things will go on to the next generations following us. That is where the
38 sadness and the very deep sadness comes in.
39 Narrator : So, if you have seen that couple’s family heirlooms please call us. Amongst the things stolen were
40 various pieces of silverware, an 19th century jardinière and cutlery with the family crest on. There’s also a
41 selection of antique clocks. So, if you’ve spotted any of these items please call us on the usual number 0800
42 011 011 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