More than 100 “irreplaceable” trophies were stolen from the National Motorcycle Museum last Wednesday, BBC news reported.
The majority of the museum’s trophies were taken, with the theft taking place at around 11pm on the Wednesday night. Thieves managed to break in to the museum’s inner foyer, where they smashed all the cabinets in order to retrieve the trophies.
The museum, based in Bickenhill, Solihull, said it would be offering £20,000 for any information leading to the safe recovery of the trophies.
The artefacts stolen include TT replicas, along with World Cup and Geoff Duke trophies.
James Hewing, director of the National Motorcycle Museum, commented that despite the trophies’ value it will be almost impossible for the thieves to sell them. If the thieves attempted to sell them to a specialist, Hewing said, they would instantly know where they had come from.
Hewing added that the theft of the trophies had probably taken place for the value of the metal, in particular the silver. But, as Hewing pointed out, the majority of the trophies stolen were in fact silver plate or nickel, meaning that together they only amount to somewhere around £500, The Telegraph reported.
Although the value of the trophies is quite low, the museum said they were ‘unique and irreplaceable as part of this country’s motorcycling heritage.’
A clear-up operation is currently underway and the museum remains open despite the substantial damage. Hewing urged anyone with any relevant information to get in contact with the West Midlands Police, or to contact the museum directly on 01675 443311.
