7th June 2007
In 2003 £274,000 worth of stolen art was recovered from a London Crime boss's house.
Police searched the criminal's home after he was arrested on suspicion of laundering money. Police discovered the stolen art and antiques in the nick of time as the stolen items had been packed into cases ready for a move.
The stolen items have now been identified by experts but not all have been returned to the rightful owners. One victim explained that the insurance company has already paid out and that she can't afford to buy it back.
The stolen items included: Three Picasso etchings and three Henry more prints worth £35,000. A pair of Bluejohn Cassolette vases worth £60,000. Five pieces of Meissen Porcelain worth £120,000.
The crime boss was jailed for seven years in March for laundering £1m. His empire consisted of loan sharking, protection rackets and money laundering. He was ordered to pay £4.7m for legal costs over four years.
