Model buses stolen from home in Sussex

Collectors, toy fair dealers and auctioneers have been asked to be on the look out, after the theft of a dozen model buses  - including a rare Mettoy piece - from a home in Burgess Hill, Sussex between 13th and 15th September. Police would also like to hear from anyone who may have seen any suspicious vehicles, people or activity in Chanctonbury Road over the weekend concerned.

Thieves broke in while the house was unoccupied and stole the model vehicles from display cabinets. Most were made by Dinky and are worth between £15 and £20 each. However one model, a green Commer Harrington coach made by Mettoy with a clockwork mechanism, is worth between £150 and £200. Several toy cars and a lorry in 1/87 and 1/76 scale, together worth £100, and a quantity of costume jewellery was also stolen.

Detective Constable Oliver Summers, investigating, said: "As the photograph shows, these are all distinctive items which we believe may be offered for sale to dealers or other collectors.

"They are asked to be wary if offered such models. The Dinky toys are a maroon luxury coach, a cream/blue observation coach, a cream half-cab coach, a dark blue/white BOAC coach, a red Roadmaster coach, a green/cream AEC double-deck bus, a red No 73 Leyland double-decker, a red Morestone double-decker, a red/cream, double-decker and two Leyland Atlanteans, one yellow and one red/cream. Also taken was the Mettoy coach and a red Morestone double-decker bus."
  
Anyone with information is asked to email or phone 101, quoting serial 276 of 16/9. Alternatively they can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers, free and anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

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