Thieves target Mouseman Furniture
A large amount of burglaries between October and December have seen pieces of antique furniture by Robert Thompson also known as mouseman furniture, stolen from rural churches in Yorkshire.
Police have asked for antique dealers to contact them if they are offered any of the stolen items of mouseman furniture so please be aware if any are offered over the next few months.
The items are an octagonal oak table bearing the Mouseman signature was taken from All Saints’ Church, in Kirby Overblow.
A pair of side chairs was taken from St Oswald’s Church in Arncliffe.
A Thompson table with a brass presentation plaque from the Church of Immaculate Conception in Sicklinghall, near Harrogate.
A Thompson bishop’s antique chair from Burnsall and Appletreewick Parochial Church.
A Mouseman lectern was stolen from St Peter’s Church in Sicklinghall.
PC Claire Brown of the Harrogate Priority Crime Team said: "Stealing from churches is a pretty callous and heartless crime. The thefts are likely to have occurred during the day while the churches were open, and many of the items are heavy and would have required at least two people to lift them."
Anybody with information should contact PC Brown on 0845 6060 247 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
Please be aware of any mouseman furniture offered and especially if offered from a van. If in doubt refuse the items and take the number plate of the van and pass these details onto the police.
