Metal has been stolen on numerous occasions in Mole Valley this year, with criminals motivated by soaring prices
The latest item stolen is a four-foot bronze sculpture of a girl holding a bird, which belonged to Angela Gilchrist.
She said: "Whoever has taken our statue came in the middle of the night and must have known what they were doing because the statue was rather weighty.
"It is rather unsettling really and I would urge anyone who has a similar item to perhaps take it indoors at night to avoid being the next target."
Mrs Gilchrist opens her garden to the public every year as part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS).
She said: "Our garden, the Ashleigh Grange, has been open through the NGS for three days each June for nearly ten years and during this time we have had probably 300 visitors a year, but never any problems.
"I don't think the fact that we open our garden for three days a year is the reason for the theft, I think that because of all this talk with the value of metal on the increase that someone has either seen or heard about ours and thought they could make some money."
But she added: "The sad thing is that our statue was made of bronze resin and therefore would be of no real value to anyone.
"But we were very fond of our girl and are deeply upset that someone would take it from us."
The statue was taken on the evening of October 13 or early the next morning. Anyone with information should contact police on 101.
The Advertiser has reported numerous metal thefts this year, including lead taken from church roofs, copper wire dug up from underground and a bronze elephant taken from a garden in Abinger Hammer.
Detective Constable Jamie Keech said: "As the cost of metal rises on the global market we are seeing more metal items targeted by thieves.
"Whilst copper and lead are particularly at risk, this recent spate of bronze statue thefts shows other metals are also being targeted.
"Surrey Police is working to find those responsible but we are also advising residents who own metal statues and ornaments to be on their guard and take some precautions.
"Consider how the item is currently secured and if necessary move it to a secure area out of sight from public view."
(Reproduced from Surrey Today 1st Nov 2011)
Gardien Comment: See the advice at http://www.garden-security.co.uk/garden-antiques-security.aspx
The latest item stolen is a four-foot bronze sculpture of a girl holding a bird, which belonged to Angela Gilchrist.
She said: "Whoever has taken our statue came in the middle of the night and must have known what they were doing because the statue was rather weighty.
"It is rather unsettling really and I would urge anyone who has a similar item to perhaps take it indoors at night to avoid being the next target."
Mrs Gilchrist opens her garden to the public every year as part of the National Garden Scheme (NGS).
She said: "Our garden, the Ashleigh Grange, has been open through the NGS for three days each June for nearly ten years and during this time we have had probably 300 visitors a year, but never any problems.
"I don't think the fact that we open our garden for three days a year is the reason for the theft, I think that because of all this talk with the value of metal on the increase that someone has either seen or heard about ours and thought they could make some money."
But she added: "The sad thing is that our statue was made of bronze resin and therefore would be of no real value to anyone.
"But we were very fond of our girl and are deeply upset that someone would take it from us."
The statue was taken on the evening of October 13 or early the next morning. Anyone with information should contact police on 101.
The Advertiser has reported numerous metal thefts this year, including lead taken from church roofs, copper wire dug up from underground and a bronze elephant taken from a garden in Abinger Hammer.
Detective Constable Jamie Keech said: "As the cost of metal rises on the global market we are seeing more metal items targeted by thieves.
"Whilst copper and lead are particularly at risk, this recent spate of bronze statue thefts shows other metals are also being targeted.
"Surrey Police is working to find those responsible but we are also advising residents who own metal statues and ornaments to be on their guard and take some precautions.
"Consider how the item is currently secured and if necessary move it to a secure area out of sight from public view."
(Reproduced from Surrey Today 1st Nov 2011)
Gardien Comment: See the advice at http://www.garden-security.co.uk/garden-antiques-security.aspx
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