MILITARY ANTIQUES STOLEN

Between 1.30pm on May 29 and 10am on May 30, a high value burglary took place at a property in Dallington.

A police spokesman said: 'The property was home to a large number of military antiques, consisting of helmets, caps, plates, bowls, vases, ornaments and swords which were used at exhibitions and available to purchase.'

The full extent of the burglary is unknown at this time but it is believed items in excess of 25,000 have been stolen, most of which are considered to be extremely distinctive and highly collectable.

Among the items stolen was the portrait of Adolf Hitler painted onto laminated wood, a Luftwaffe dagger with a bronze eagles head handle and a rare and very fragile East African Sun helmet worth 1250.

A full list of stolen items, including pictures, can be seen at www.militaryantiques.co.uk by following the link marked stolen items.

Police say the owner is keen to recover as many of the items as possible as they were uninsured.

Witnesses are asked to come forward as is anyone who has knowledge of those responsible for the burglary or knows of the whereabouts of any of the items to contact PC Paul Graham at Battle Police Station on: 0845 60 70 999 (Ext 65280) or call Crime Stoppers anonymously on: 0800 555 111.