Essex: Clarinets may hold the key to burglary investigation (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Essex: Clarinets may hold the key to burglary investigation

8:10am Tuesday 8th January 2013 in News

Police have released information about two stolen clarinets in the hope that they could lead to thieves who took them during burglaries in Hockley.

Two nearby homes in Greensward Lane were targeted between December 8 and 10. Rear doors were forced at both properties and detectives believe that the same suspects were involved in both burglaries.

The two clarinets were taken after intruders broke in to one of the properties between 4pm and 9pm on December 8.

The instruments, both custom-made by Buffet and together valued at a four figure sum, were both packed inside a double-sized clarinet case.

Computer equipment, jewellery and other items were also taken in the burglary.

The second incident is thought to have happened at about the same time but was not discovered until the home owners returned on December 10. A computer external hard drive and various items of jewellery were taken.

Investigating officer, Pc Layla Barker, said: "Greensward Lane is a busy main road and the two properties involved are on the same side of the road near Greensward School.

"There is a lot of through traffic and a bus stop nearby and we hope that anyone in the area might remember seeing people acting suspiciously that weekend.

"Both burglaries have had a profound effect on the victims, especially because items of great sentimental value such as the clarinets and jewellery have been taken.

"The clarinets are custom-made and in a large case that might have looked like a laptop case. It is unusual for musical instruments to be taken and we hope we can find them or anyone who might have been trying to sell them in suspicious circumstances.”

Anyone with information about the clarinets or both burglaries should contact Pc Barker at Southend CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.