Theft of bronze mausoleum doors

Police are appealing for witnesses, and anyone with information, to come forward after thieves stole a pair of unique bronze ornamental doors from a mausoleum in memory of one of Bournemouth's founding families.

The thieves struck at the Russell-Cotes mausoleum which is located in the cemetery off Wimborne Road in Bournemouth, and made off with the doors which are each seven feet high and one and a half feet wide.

The alarm was raised by the male cemetery supervisor who alerted Dorset Police on Monday 7 June. It is believed that the theft of the two bronze doors took place sometime over the weekend of 5 and 6 June.

The doors are made of perforated cast bronze and bear the name 'Russell' on the left-hand door and 'Cotes' on the right-hand door. They also bear a 16 leaf chrysanthemum design which was the emblem of a Japanese Emperor.

It is believed that several people would have been needed to lift the doors off their hinge posts and that a vehicle would have been required to take them away.

PC Katherine Dean of Winton police explained: "I am appealing for anyone who saw any suspicious, unusual or out of the ordinary activity in the Charminster Road cemetery between 4pm on Friday 4 June and 8.25am on Monday 7 June to come forward.

"I would also like to hear from anyone who hears of, or sees, these very distinctive doors being offered for sale, perhaps in unusual circumstances, in an unusual location or for an unusually low amount of money.

"I am interested in any information, no matter how unimportant or irrelevant people may believe it to be, and all calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.”

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 01202 222222 or the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.