[ Post New Message | Post Reply to this One | Send Private Email to Cathy | Help ]

Marilyn Monroe's jewels snatched from exhibition

from Cathy (cathyvpreece@aol.com)

Marilyn Monroe's jewels snatched from exhibition

By John Steele, Crime Correspondent
(Filed: 16/04/2003)

Telegraph

Jewellery once owned by Marilyn Monroe has been stolen from an exhibition about the film star.

A gold ring with a diamond-encrusted "M" motif and a gold and diamond bangle, together worth up to £40,000, were snatched from a gallery on the South Bank in London.

Two men entered the building on Monday afternoon and, after looking at exhibits for a few minutes, snatched the jewellery and fled, Scotland Yard said yesterday.

A member of the public alerted security guards who chased the men, one of whom ran towards Westminster Bridge where he was caught by police officers. The other disappeared into crowds.

One man is being questioned in connection with the thefts and remains in custody.

Another man, described as black, slim, 5ft 9in tall and wearing a dark coat over a suit, is still being hunted. The property has not been recovered.

Det Insp Tim Forber of Kennington CID, who is leading the investigation, yesterday appealed for witnesses and for the return of the jewellery. "It will be very difficult to sell these items," he said.

The exhibition, Marilyn Monroe - Life of a Legend, is proclaimed as "the biggest ever exhibition devoted to the life of the ultimate screen icon". More than 250 of her former possessions and items inspired by her are on show within the permanent Salvador Dali collection in the old County Hall building.

Among the exhibits are previously unseen photographs, mementos from the Hollywood star's childhood and designer dresses. Highlights include the dress and jewellery worn on her first date with Jo DiMaggio, the baseball star. Works by Andy Warhol, Peter Blake and Henri Cartier-Bresson are also on display.

The jewellery was on loan from an auction house and was due to go on sale in September.

Antonia Spanos, head of exhibitions at the gallery, said the stolen pieces of jewellery were "very rare items which had a lot of personal significance to Marilyn".

(posted 7653 days ago)

[ Previous | Next ]