COUNTY NEWS: Gang convicted for plot to steal museum valuables

An organised crime gang who masterminded a series of raids on museums and auction houses across the UK, including in Sussex, have been convicted.
Fitzwilliam Museum burglary entry point. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-094618001Fitzwilliam Museum burglary entry point. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-094618001
Fitzwilliam Museum burglary entry point. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-094618001

Between November 2011 and April 2012, Chinese artefacts and rhinoceros horns worth millions of pounds were targeted in six incidents - two thefts and an attempted theft from Durham University Oriental Museum, robberies at Norwich Castle Museum in Norfolk and Gorringes Auction House in Lewes, and a burglary at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.

Investigations were launched by local police forces and a number of people convicted for their parts in carrying out the thefts.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

However, it soon became apparent that an organised crime group was planning and commissioning the jobs.

Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095101001Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095101001
Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095101001

‘Operation Griffin’, an investigation led jointly by Cambridgeshire and Durham Constabularies, and supported by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and the National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC), was launched in June 2012 to bring those behind the conspiracy to justice.

Daniel ‘Turkey’ O’Brien, 45, John ‘Kerry’ O’Brien, 26, Michael Hegarty, 43, and Richard ‘Kerry’ O’Brien Junior, 31, all from Cambridgeshire but with links to Rathkeale in Ireland, were yesterday (Monday, February 29) found guilty of conspiracy to steal, following an eight-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Eight other men, aged between 33 and 68, from Cambridgeshire, London, Southend-on-Sea and Wolverhampton, were found guilty at three previous trials, all at Birmingham Crown Court. Two others, one aged 28 from Kent, and the other aged 46 from Belfast, pleaded guilty to the charges in March last year and January this year.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Reporting restrictions were put in place by the judge until all the defendants had faced trial, that process is now complete.

Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095050001Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095050001
Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095050001

All 14 men were charged in connection with all six incidents.

Senior Investigating Officer for the operation, Detective Superintendent Adrian Green from Durham Constabulary, said: “I am extremely pleased with the verdicts passed today and over the previous year.

“Because of the variations which can be given by auction houses the total value of the items targeted comes to anywhere between £18m and £57m. This illustrates just how massively profitable this trade was viewed by the gang.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“All the hard work put in by everyone involved has paid off; firstly, those that carried out the burglaries were caught and convicted by local officers. What followed was a very long and complex investigation to capture and bring to justice those who commissioned and planned the jobs.

Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095032001Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095032001
Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095032001

“I hope this sends out a message that nobody is untouchable.”

Derbyshire Chief Constable Mick Creedon, the national policing lead for organised crime said: “This complex and lengthy operation resulted from initial work done by the Cambridgeshire and Durham forces who uncovered the offending of a sophisticated criminal network responsible for a series of high value offences across the country.

“These convictions are the result of a nationally co-ordinated investigation involving the National Police Chiefs Council, numerous police forces, the National Crime Agency, HM Revenue and Customs and significant international liaison in Europe and beyond, all coupled with close working with the Crown Prosecution Service and prosecuting counsel.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Organised crime takes many forms and seeks to exploit any opportunity to harm communities and make criminal profit. This case starkly demonstrates the level of threat, the lengths criminal gangs will go to and the importance of law enforcement agencies sharing intelligence and working together, nationally and internationally.”

Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095020001Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095020001
Chinese artefacts worth millions were stolen from museums across the UK. Photo courtesy of Cambridgeshire Police. SUS-160103-095020001

A date for sentencing is yet to be confirmed.

The six incidents were:

1. Durham University Oriental Museum - between November 2011 and February 2012, theft of a rhinoceros libation cup

2. Durham University Oriental Museum - January 16, 2012, attempted theft of Chinese artefacts

3. Norwich Castle Museum - February 20, 2012, attempted theft of a rhinoceros horn

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

4. Gorringes Auction House in East Sussex - March 16, 2012, robbery

5. Durham University Oriental Museum - April 5, 2012, burglary and theft of two Chinese artefacts worth about £2million

6. Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge - April 13, 2012, burglary and theft of Jade artefacts worth about £15million.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage

2) Like our Facebook page

3) Follow us on Twitter

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

Always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.