A ring and bracelet that once belonged to silver screen icon Marilyn Monroe have been stolen from an art gallery in London.
Two thieves burst into the Country Hall Gallery and smashed open a glass cabinet to grab the items. They made off with a gold ring featuring a diamond "M" motif and a gold bracelet with a cluster of clear diamonds.
"They are very special, classic Monroe pieces which were typical of the kind of thing she wore," said the venue's business manager Antonia Spanos. "There's an unconfirmed story that the ring was given to her by Joe DiMaggio."
Security staff managed to apprehend one of the raiders as the pair made their escape. His partner got away with the jewellery, however. The two pieces are said to be worth around £40,000. They were part of the exhibition "Marilyn Monroe – Life Of A Legend", thought to be the largest ever dedicated to the iconic actress.
It is believed the smash-and-grab thieves were amateurs, however, as they could have stolen far more expensive items. "A lot of art work we have is more valuable, but I guess the thieves couldn't work that out," said Spanos. "They took what was most appealing but not what was most valuable." Experts say the unique nature of the pieces will also make them difficult to sell.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
