AN INVESTIGATION is under way after two museum pieces being restored in Winchester were stolen from a Hampshire County Council building.
A Joseph Hocker clock mechanism worth £2,000 and a six-foot- tall mahogany clock case valued at £1,000 were taken from an office at Chilcomb House, Chilcomb Lane, Winchester. The clock casing is believed to date back to 1730 and the clock mechanism is from the late 1700s.
They were being restored at the building before being used in the period history display at the council's new Milestones museum, which is opening in Basingstoke next month.
Police say that they were removed from the building, which houses the county's museum service, between 5.50pm and 9.20pm on Monday night.
It is believed that thieves got into Chilcomb House by breaking the chain on the site's gates and forcing a door.
A Hampshire County Council spokesperson said: "We can confirm that an incident took place at the Museum Service headquarters, Chilcomb House, during which a clock case and a clock mechanism were stolen.
"In light of this incident, the county council is assisting Hampshire police with their investigations, and is reviewing security procedures in place at Chilcomb House."
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