A valuable antique violin has been recovered and two suspects have been charged following a series of thefts from vehicles parked in and around Sevenoaks.
It is alleged that between October 2022 and April 2023 multiple vehicles were broken into, after they had been left in car parks in areas which also included Hildenborough.
£10,000 violin
Possessions including golf clubs and related equipment were reported stolen as well as a violin valued at more than £10,000, which was taken from a BMW parked in South Park, Sevenoaks.
Search warrants
On Friday 12 May, search warrants were executed at three properties in Berkshire and south east London.
This led to the recovery of more than 300 golf clubs, and musical equipment including 11 guitars.
Before the searches, previous enquiries had led officers to recover the antique violin from a specialist shop in Oxford.
The violin has now been reunited with its rightful owner.
Investigation and charges
Two men were arrested on 12 May, as part of an investigation by the West Kent Victim Based Crime Team.
Michael McTigue, 35, of no fixed address was charged with conspiring to steal items from vehicles. He appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Saturday 13 May and was remanded in custody.
William French, 35, from Thatcham, Berkshire was charged with conspiring to steal items from vehicles, and four counts of theft. He appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Monday 15 May and was also remanded.
Both suspects are scheduled to appear next at Maidstone Crown Court on 12 June.